Working Paper: NBER ID: w24669
Authors: Alain Jousten; Mathieu Lefebvre
Abstract: The paper studies the labor market participation of older workers in Belgium over the last 3 decades. It outlines the changes to the institutional framework of relevance for labor market participation and employment. Drawing on data from the European Union Labour Force Survey (LFS) over the period 1983-2013, we provide evidence of the trends in participation in (early-) retirement routes. We also explore how the jobs occupied by older workers have changed over time, both in terms of their “quality” and the “quantity” of work involved. Part-time work is found to become more common, though with different attributes for men and women.
Keywords: Labor Force Participation; Older Workers; Belgium; Retirement; Employment Trends
JEL Codes: H55; J11; J21; J26; I38
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| LFP of older men in Belgium (J26) | Transition through three distinct stages (decline, stability, upward trend) (E32) |
| Institutional reforms, shifts in retirement incentives, broader labor market dynamics (J26) | Changes in LFP (E30) |
| Quality and quantity of jobs for older workers (J26) | Part-time work becoming more prevalent (J29) |
| Women’s labor force participation (J21) | Male labor force participation volatility (J49) |