Employment Status and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults: Disentangling the Gendered Effects of Entering and Exiting Employment.

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study examines the relationship between employment transitions and life satisfaction among Korean adults aged 65 and older, with a focus on the distinct effects of entering and exiting employment. Moreover, the study explores whether these associations vary by gender.

Research design and methods: Utilizing data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, the study employed innovative asymmetric fixed effects models to separately assess the impacts of entering and exiting employment. Gender-stratified analyses were also conducted to explore potential differences in these effects between men and women.

Results: Conventional fixed effects models suggested that employment status is not significantly related to life satisfaction in older adults. However, the asymmetric fixed effects models revealed a more nuanced picture: entering employment is associated with an increase in life satisfaction whereas exiting employment shows no significant association. The gender-stratified analysis further indicated that for men, entering employment improved life satisfaction, whereas exiting had no effect. In contrast, for older women, entering employment did not enhance life satisfaction, but exiting employment had a positive impact.

Discussion and implications: These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive employment policies for older adults, aimed at enhancing their well-being based on their unique experiences of employment transitions.