The False Promises of Working Longer

Abstract

Advocates for working longer as the sole response to population aging in America ignore the rising inequalities in health, wealth, and longevity; the often-detrimental health effects of working longer; the high risk of job loss and involuntary retirement at older ages; and the low wages and poor working conditions of many of the jobs available to older workers. Eliminating employment protections for older workers—such as minimum wage requirements and age discrimination prohibitions—would likely make working into old age more onerous and inequality worse.