As in other western industrialised countries the structural ageing of the Australian population has significant labour market implications. Government has responded with a range of policies to persuade older workers to abandon early retirement and/or remain in the workforce past traditional retirement ages. But whether this generation of workers will be prepared to change their retirement plans in response to policy encouragement, and whether current policy measures will translate into significant numbers of older workers extending their labour force participation is uncertain. Using the Australian Survey of Retirement Attitudes and Motivations (ASRAM) a recently completed, nationally representative survey of Australian workers aged 40-59 years we find that while the Government message about working longer is getting through, older workers are relatively unresponsive to current policy measures. Other policies, especially policies outside the financial realm, are needed to maximise the number of older Australians in the labour force.
History
Publication title
Australian Journal of Social Issues
Volume
43
Pagination
291-309
ISSN
0157-6321
Department/School
School of Social Sciences
Publisher
Australian Council of Social Services
Place of publication
Canberra
Rights statement
Copyright 2008 Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)