September 2016
Summary: Our research investigates whether and how older women’s current and anticipated future labor force patterns has changed over time, to evaluate the factors associated with longer work lives and plans to continue working at older ages. For our empirical investigation, we use data from two sources: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS). Our analysis finds that older women’s current and intended future labor force attachment patterns have changed markedly over time. Compared to the HRS baseline cohort (first interviewed in 1992), recent cohorts of women in their 50’s and 60’s work more, and they are also more likely to say they will continue to be working at age 65….