The role of employability in the labour market transitions of older workers: a cross-national study in Europe

Thesis

In light of current population dynamics across Europe, employability has been highlighted in policy circles as a way to enhance the employment situation for older people and to extend working lives. This research examines the concept of employability in the context of older workers (aged 50-64) in a number of European countries. The definition of employability is elaborated through prior research to develop a conceptual framework for analysis. This multidimensional framework is then applied using multiple waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analysis identifies the associations of indicators representing the dimensions of employability on labour market status through a cross-sectional approach, before expanding to explore their relationship with labour market transitions in and out of employment. This is first done using English data before introducing macroeconomic variables in a multilevel model of 13 European countries to incorporate the cultural and contextual factors that may impact trends in labour market outcomes of older workers. Overall, the findings suggest that, while some of the conceptual dimensions of employability are associated with labour market outcomes, many of these relationships relate to broader socio-economic factors as well as the contextual environment in which older workers find themselves. In other words, for policy approaches to improve employment in later life, a focus on the concept of employability may be a less effective approach than concentrating on more specific factors that shape the structure of opportunities for older workers.

Authors: Beach, B

• Publication date: 2016
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-2abebbavd
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: labour market transitions; employability; older workers
• Subjects: Ageing; Demography and population ageing; Employment; Retirement; Europe; Older persons