I doubt anyone's mind will be changed but there's a new study showing that increased life expectancy has only minimal effects on labor force participation.
I submit that the main reason older people are less likely to work than young people is that their health has declined and they're no longer able to do the work they've done in the past. How many people do you see working in construction who are in their 60s or even 50s? Even those who work in offices usually have health problems that keep them out of work more frequently as they get older. People live longer but we have no way of preventing aging from having effects on health and ability to work. Younger people like to visualize themselves remaining vigorous until they suddenly get sick and die but that's not the way it works for most people.
I think people want to retire because they have planned in the back of their minds to retire between 62 and 65. Some may be due to health, but people like to retire while they can still do some things. They are tired of work having done it for decades When you get that red white and blue card, you are not tied to work for insurance, being retired, doing some fun stuff before you get a walker is appealing. Dont over think it.
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ReplyDeleteI'm in my 60's and still working and I can also do other things. With telework, credit hours, annual leave, I am not tied to coming into the office like I used to be, I have my freedom now. Retirement will eventually come but it won't be that much of a change for me.
Construction workers and manual laborers don't have it so easy, I had a tree taken down recently and all the workers were young. Climbing a tree with a chainsaw isn't something I would do in my 60's. I've known several laborers and movers who had to quit due to back problems.
Also older workers face age discrimination once they lose their job and have to look elsewhere for work.Just because people live longer doesn't mean someone will hire them in their 60's or older.
@ Anon 11:41
ReplyDeleteVery good points. You pretty much summed up why the Grids were created.
"Also older workers face age discrimination once they lose their job and have to look elsewhere for work.Just because people live longer doesn't mean someone will hire them in their 60's or older.?"
I have heard this argument many times. Age discrimination is a real world factor. Unfortunately, it is not a factor in determining disability. Wish it was. The Grids try to make up for it.
At 65 I am gone, my self worth is not wrapped up in my job, its just what I do for money and I want to do some things while I still can. I hope my health holds out!
ReplyDeleteThe researchers found any association between increased longevity and increased time in the work force to be "small" and not applicable at all to some groups. If SSA was considering whether to make any grid rule changes it can stop now.
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ReplyDeleteI used to see unfavorable SSA dib decisions where the denial decision would list the number of jobs in the economy the claimant could do, even with their disability. . This always struck me as unfair especially for older claimants.
The number of such jobs in the economy are not relevant, if nobody will hire you because of your disability, your age, or a combination of the two.
If we should start factoring age discrimination into a disability evaluation, then I suppose we should also factor in felony history, body habitus, and other unrelated factors to disability, too. We'll change the standard from can't do a job to can't find one.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I guess the grid rules already do this in some respects since there's little reason a former mechanic limited to light work for a shoulder condition would not be expected to get hired at AutoZone to help customers just because they're 56. Same for skilled workers like electricians, carpenters, etc. and getting a job at Ace, Menards, or Home Depot.
You are right re heavy jobs like construction not working in their 50s and especially in their 60s. By then they have to be contractors that mainly oversee the work but not everyone can be one of those.
ReplyDeleteFor less demanding jobs like most office jobs, I think it is more of just getting tired of working and hitting the magic age of 62 or 65 that induces many to retire.
Many lawyers and doctors work well beyond 65. Ditto self employed folks but maybe that's because they enjoy their work so much.
There are a lot of workers who do "less demanding jobs" despite ongoing medical problems which worsen as they age. Many just try to hang on until age 62 when they can get retirement benefits.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am somewhat disappointed at the number of people who are not infirm retiring at 62 "because they can" or because the government will pay for it (SS), I will say:
ReplyDelete- I can believe that some people bodies are just worn out
- As a 63 year old software engineer, I am challenged by my mind not being sharp, and so "worn out" may also apply.
We are living longer, but the quality of life is not what it used to be.
Excellent post Mr.Hall
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