Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Oct 3;35(5):509-526.
doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01354. Epub 2022 Aug 1.

Factors affecting work ability and influencing early retirement decisions of older employees: an attempt to integrate the existing approaches

Barbara Woźniak  1 , Monika Brzyska  1 , Aleksandra Piłat  1 , Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk  1
Affiliations
Review

Factors affecting work ability and influencing early retirement decisions of older employees: an attempt to integrate the existing approaches

Barbara Woźniak et al. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. .

Abstract

The article has several objectives. First, it aims to discuss, based on the international literature analysis, theoretical models and factors influencing early retirement decisions, and limiting work ability and employability of older people. Second, the concept of (and the factors related to) work ability as well as the role of age management in improving employability and sustaining work activity of older adults are analyzed against the backdrop of the Polish context. Cultural (ageism) and organizational (e.g., a lack of appropriate age management in companies) factors influencing work activity in the oldest age groups are taken into account. Third, the authors present some solutions and recommendations coming from the international Participation To Healthy Workplaces And inclusive Strategies in the Work Sector (PATHWAYS) project. Finally, theoretical models, concepts and solutions are integrated into a model elucidating the conditions (cultural, social, organizational, individual) influencing work ability of older adults. The model aims to take into account theories and factors identified in the literature review and grouped into several categories. The analysis highlights the role of appropriate age management in companies in the process of sustaining work ability of older employees. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(5):509-26.

Keywords: ageism; early exit from work; employability; pull factors; push factors; work ability.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram depicting the procedure of the selection of papers included in the literature review of the factors influencing early retirement decisions (based on the literature analysis conducted in 2019, focused on papers published in English in 1997–2017, not concentrated on any specific country or region)
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Integrated factors influencing work ability of older employees (based on the literature analysis conducted in 2019, focused on papers published in English in 1997–2017, not concentrated on any specific country or region)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. United Nations. World Population Ageing 2019 (ST/ESA/SER.A/444) [Internet]. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, editor. New York: United Nations; 2020. [cited 2021 Dec 20]. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/agein....
    1. Główny Urząd Statystyczny. Rocznik Demograficzny Demographic Yearbook of Poland. Warszawa; 2021.
    1. GUS. Prognoza ludności na lata 2014-2050 Population projection for Poland 2014-2050 [Internet]. Zakład Wydawnictw Statystycznych; 2014. [cited 2021 Dec 20]. Available from: http://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/54....
    1. D'Addio AC, Keese M, Whitehouse E.. Population ageing and labour markets. Oxf Rev Econ Policy [Internet]. 2010. [cited 2021 Dec 21];26(4):613–35. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/oxrep/article/26/4/613/452066.
    1. United Nations. World Population Ageing 2015 – Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/368) [Internet]. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, editor. New York: United Nations; 2015. [cited 2021 Dec 20]. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/agein...