Should I Go or Could I Stay? Inequalities in Working Beyond Retirement Age

Abstract Population ageing has led to increasing policy efforts aimed at extending working lives across Europe. While research has examined early retirement and intentions to continue working, less attention has been given to factors associated with continuation in employment beyond the statutory retirement age. This study examines which work-related perceptions are associated with remaining in or leaving professional activity after retirement age. Using data from Wave 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the analysis includes 3,156 individuals aged 68 and over across 24 European countries. Individuals who remain working are compared with those who have retired, considering sociodemographic characteristics, employment conditions and country context. Multilevel regression models were used. Results indicate that remaining in employment is associated with lower perceived work constraints and greater opportunities for skill development, whereas retirement is associated with higher perceived job security and lower perceived recognition. Individuals who remain working are also more likely to be higher educated and self-employed. Health results suggest a differentiated pattern, with working individuals reporting slightly poorer overall health but fewer perceived limitations for work. These findings suggest that continuing to work beyond retirement age reflects unequal cumulative trajectories shaped by work conditions, health, and socio-economic context, rather than a decision taken solely at the point of retirement. In this sense, extending working life can only be understood in relation to conditions that enable individuals to make this decision in a sustainable and equitable way, which has important implications for policies addressing population ageing.