Working Beyond Retirement: Are there Gender Differences in Bridge Employment?

This paper examined gender differences associated with bridge employment using a sample of American workers aged 50 and older. Gender role theory and gendered life course retirement models informed this research. Gender differences and similarities were found in reasons why workers retired from their main job. Logistic regressions indicated that men and women who had health care benefits available at work and men with lower family incomes were more likely to be pursuing bridge employment. Work interfering with family was related to a decreased likelihood of bridge employment for men and women, while work-family synergy was positively related to bridge employment for men. Health variables (self-rated health and mental health) were unrelated to bridge employment. Finally, gender and marital status interacted to predict engagement in bridge employment. Policy implications are discussed including the notion that working beyond retirement represents a new and complex career stage.