Working Beyond State Pension Age: The influence

The project demonstrated that work-history, regardless of income, is important as a (de)-motivator to extend paid work. Having a strong labour market attachment, particuarly late in life, enables extending beyond state pension age. Labour market dis-attachment leads to a double disadvantage - low pension income built up during their working life and low ability to work longer to make up for this. This reflects the cumulative disadvantage over the life course for certain groups.

Gender differences also exist in terms of how work-family life history impact upon working beyond state pension age. Work-family history is important for women, even after income is accounted for. Even women working many years in the labour market extend partly because many of the years are spent working part time. Remaining single after a divorce, especially with children, increases the likelihood of working longer. For men, work-family history has less of an impact, with marriage and full time emloyment reducing the chances of working longer. It appears men are protected by their breadwinning role. But there is also some evidence that men falling outside their 'breadwinning' role are penalised for it, with men working part-time having higher odds of extending than women working part time.

Until gender inequality in the labour market are addressed directly, women are likely to need to work beyond state pension age to make up for them.