A Mixed-Methods Examination of Lost Occupational Choice in Retirement

Lost work opportunity and forced retirement demonstrate negative health impacts related to occupational deprivation. Measuring occupational loss during the retirement transition can be problematic. The objective of the study is to clarify measurement of involuntary retirement in its relationship to occupational loss and deprivation. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, survey data on unemployment, forced retirement, and earlier-than-planned retirement from 195 screened retirees yielded 102 reporting at least one lost work opportunity event, with 18 interviewed about occupational loss within the analytic timeframe. Planned retirement age was similar for full-employment and lost work opportunity groups. Actual retirement age was earlier in the lost work opportunity sample (age 57.5 compared with 61.2). Interviews identified a 22% discrepancy between forced retirement reported in survey versus interview data. Themes emerging from the interviews indicated financial and identity challenges from lost work opportunity, a dialectical trade-off between lost opportunity and daily freedom, and overall resilience. Job Loss at Retirement Age is UnderreportedRetirement timing can be affected by several factors outside an individual's control, which we can label as forced retirement. Choice in timing is important as forced retirement can negatively impact health. Forced retirement fits an occupational deprivation model which describes how lost occupational opportunity or participation can have a negative impact. The present study found that from a pool of 195 surveyed and 18 interviewed retirees, one fifth of retirees underreported forced retirement. Retirees with lost work opportunities reported financial and identity challenges balanced by the trade-off between lost work and daily freedom. A theme of overall resilience in managing the challenges was notable. The mismeasurement of forced retirement in light of its negative health impact highlights a public health need to better measure lost work opportunity of aging workers to inform policy.