Extended Work Lives and the Rediscovery of the 'Disadvantaged' Older Worker

Disadvantaged older workers are virtually invisible in policy debates about extended working lives. It is important to "rediscover" these workers, who are greater in number than is assumed, according to analyses of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Qualitative research with hospitality workers in England reveals the negative effects of expecting people to work beyond traditional retirement ages when they have low levels of health and education and struggle to continue working in physically demanding jobs. Policy solutions could help reduce this problem.