Who continues to work in older age? The case of Norway

Abstract Background To ensure a sufficient supply of personnel in various jobs and to ensure financial sustainability of the welfare state through tax revenues, Norway has changed the pension system to financially incentivize older individuals to work longer. Continued work may improve health, which in turn may prevent later needs for health and care services. Groups with different health and sociodemographic characteristics or in different jobs may nevertheless have dissimilar work capacities for extending their working lives. Methods We apply multivariate logistic regression models to the 2017-round of the Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation Study to understand what characterizes those who continue work in older age. Our participants are born between 1946-1959 and had an annual income above €10,000 at baseline (N = 1618) and were followed via registers to 2021. Results Preliminary findings show that those who continue to work at an older age are positively selected in terms of health and socioeconomic status. They are also more likely to work in the private sector and hold jobs with a certain degree of flexibility. We find clear gender differences: Men are more likely to work in older age than women. The link between health and occupational activity is, however, stronger for women than men. Conclusions Differences in health, sociodemographic characteristics and job tasks appear to influence decisions for continued work in Norway, and the impact of health appears to differ between the genders. More research on the possibilities for and implications of extended working lives in various groups of older individuals appears warranted, to ensure equity also in later life. Key messages • Differences in health, sociodemographic characteristics and job tasks appear to influence decisions regarding continued work in older ages. • More knowledge of the possibilities for and implications of extended working lives in various subgroups of older individuals appears warranted.