Labour Market Activity Among Seniors in Canada
Census data shows that both women and men over 65 are postponing retirement - seniors at the top and at the bottom of the family income scale were most likely to be employed.
| Category | Work-Life Quality: Retirement |
| Details | An analysis of census data shows that employment rates among seniors have been on the rise in recent years after registering declines in the 1980s and 1990s. Between 1996 and 2006, the rate increased from 11.8% to 14.8% for men and from 4.0% to 5.8% for women. Among those who also worked the previous year, many worked on a full-time, full-year basis: 41.6% of men and 30.6% of women in 2005. Almost one-half of working seniors were employed in the business and consumer services industries. Farmer was the most common occupation among senior men, while senior women were more likely to be employed as retail salespersons and sales clerks. Senior men and women at the top and bottom of the family income scale (from sources other than individual employment earnings) were more likely to be employed compared with those in the middle. Higher levels of education, not having activity limitations and having a mortgage were also associated with being employed. Among those who were employed, men and women at the bottom of the family income group were more likely to be working full year, full time (50.4% of men and 40.2% of women). A detailed analysis of other income sources showed that both being employed and working full year, full time were negatively associated with public pensions and private income (excluding employment income), but positively related to the earnings of other family members (usually the spouse). |
| Author | Sharanjit Uppal |
| Publication Date | July 2010 |
| Source | Statistics Canada: Perspectives on Labour and Income, Vol. 11, no. 7 |
| Format | HTML & PDF |
| Availability | Labour market activity among seniors L'activité des personnes âgées sur le marché du travail |
| Related Links | Perspectives on Labour and Income |
