Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Achieving fuller working lives: labour market and policy issues in the United Kingdom

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Lain

Downloads


Licence

This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Wiley , 2016.

For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.


Abstract

In the United Kingdom there has been a shift away from policies promoting early retirement towards an emphasis on extended, fuller working lives. This article examines the nature of policy change in this area and prospects for individuals remaining in work longer. Pension ages for men and women are rising rapidly and by 2028 are likely to reach 67 years. Cash benefits for those out of work before state pension age are becoming harder to access and incentives for working beyond 65 are being enhanced. In this context, restrictions have been placed on the use of mandatory retirement ages by employers. Employees have also been granted the right to request flexible employment. However, a lack of coordinated policy up until now means that important challenges exist with regard to extending working lives. Ill-health and low levels of qualifications limit the employment prospects of many older people, particularly among those in the poorest segments. Likewise, retention rates of older workers may have improved, but prospects for recruitment in older age remain poor. Policies focusing on the individual have also not yet recognised the extent to which employment in older age is influenced by the household and wider family context.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Phillipson C, Vickerstaff S, Lain D

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Australian Journal of Social Issues

Year: 2016

Volume: 51

Issue: 2

Pages: 187-204

Online publication date: 22/12/2016

Acceptance date: 22/06/2016

Date deposited: 13/10/2017

ISSN (print): 0157-6321

ISSN (electronic): 1839-4655

Publisher: Wiley

URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1839-4655.2016.tb00373.x

DOI: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2016.tb00373.x


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share