Older men and women both face high rates of involuntary retirement: Share of retired older workers who retired involuntarily, by gender and age (2014–2018 pooled data)
| Involuntary retirement rate | |
|---|---|
| Men | 54.7% |
| Women | 52.7% |
| Men | 46.2% |
| Women | 44.0% |
Notes: The sample includes individuals who reported being retired in the current survey but working as employees in the previous one. Involuntary retirement is defined as retirement preceded by poor health or disability (including poor mental health or stress); by a layoff, business closure, or ownership change; or by changes in working conditions or compensation.
The sample includes individuals who reported being retired in the current survey but working as employees in the previous one. Involuntary retirement is defined as retirement preceded by poor health or disability (including poor mental health or stress); by a layoff, business closure, or ownership change; or by changes in working conditions or compensation. The share of workers who retired involuntarily would be higher if it included workers who retired for caregiving reasons, but the survey questions do not differentiate between workers who retired when faced with caregiving responsibilities and those retirees who simply wanted to spend more time with family.
Source: Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) analysis of Health and Retirement Study data (RAND 2022; University of Michigan 2022).