Access and Unmet Need for Paid Leave Among Older Workers

Increased life expectancy, coupled with reduced retirement security, is leading many Americans to work into older age. Paid leave policies support workers by offering job-secure paid time off to address health and caregiving needs. However, little is known about the access to and unmet need for leave among older workers, given their heightened health and caregiving needs that often conflict with maintaining employment and retirement planning. This study combines data from the 2011 and 2017-18 American Time Use Surveys (ATUS) to examine access and unmet need for paid leave among employed adults aged 55-70 by age cohort, difficulty with activities of daily living, gender, and race/ethnicity. Findings suggest that access to paid leave declines with age, and that shifts to part-time work play a role in declining access. To meet the needs of an aging workforce, policymakers should ensure that access to paid leave policies extends to part-time workers.