Continuity in later life: urban–rural differences in post-retirement work participation in Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to examine the determinants of postretirement employment and job search duration among retirees in urban and rural Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This research uses secondary data from the August 2023 Indonesian Labor Force Survey, we analyzed 856 retirees aged 53 and over who had exited formal employment within the past year. Findings Rural retirees are more likely to remain employed and experience shorter job search durations than their urban counterparts. Those living in rural areas, younger age groups, lower educational levels, male gender and previous work in agriculture showed a higher likelihood of working postretirement. Retirees in regions with higher human development index also exhibited greater labor force participation. Research limitations/implications First, the cross-sectional data do not support the longitudinal analysis. Second, the sample included only retirees from the previous year. Third, uneven sample distribution across provinces prevented us from applying multilevel binary logistic modeling. Future studies should apply mixed-methods to explore the complexity of postretirement work decisions. Originality/value This study highlights rural–urban disparities in postretirement work, offering rare evidence from middle income countries, non-western context.