Popular images of middle-aged and older women seldom include the image of women as workers. But paid work is extremely important in the lives of many older women. However, they face problems of unequal compensation, occupational segregation, and age and sex discrimination. (SK)

This fact sheet provides statistics on various aspects of the special concern of midlife and older women in the labor force. It looks at the number of such women in the work force, marital status, displaced homemakers, and occupational categories represented by these women. Other areas of consideration are the cost-effectiveness of hiring older…

A tentative theory of age-discrimination is indirectly tested through labor statistics concerning the duration of unemployment. After first reviewing the inadequacies and inapplicability of sex and race discrimination hypotheses derived from the conventional economic models, this analysis synthesizes statistical models of discrimination to explain…

Older workers face many obstacles to working after age 65. This situation is causing significant problems for the social security system. In light of previous findings that many older workers prefer part-time employment, an intensive study was conducted of the policies of one company and its employees' attitudes. Participants expected to retire at…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median age of workers will rise from 34.8 years in 1982 to 37.3 years by 1995. In the 30 years between 1955 and 1985, the number of workers aged 45 and over has risen from 25 million to nearly 32 million. Workers over the age of 45 are established in all types of occupations. The number of men aged…

This information paper explores the need for age-neutral functional criteria in the human resources management system and the need for managers to review currently accepted employment policies. Population patterns, labor force profiles, and labor force projections are reviewed. The paper examines the effect of retirement policies and considers…

In an effort to pare labor and benefits costs, many businesses and government employers have significantly reduced the size of their permanent, full-time work forces in favor of a part-time work force and various types of contingent workers: independent contractors, temporary workers, on-call workers and day laborers, and leased workers.…

A study was conducted in Hawaii to determine the status of elderly persons in regard to employment, as well as attitudes toward employment of the elderly, defined in this study as aged 55 and over. Elderly persons aged 65 and over are the fastest growing segment of Hawaii's population, projected to increase from 73,700 in 1980 to 141,000 in 2000.…

This booklet provides information about the changing work force. It offers a profile of workers aged 45 and older, as well as likely changes in the work force of the future. Tables and graphs illustrate the following: profile of Americans aged 50 and older, by employment status; employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by age…

Fifty-four percent of all midlife and older American women are in the work force. Like their younger counterparts, most older women work in nonprofessional occupations. Regardless of their age, working women earn less than men. Sixty-five percent of working women aged 45 to 64 are married; 30 percent are widowed, divorced, or separated; and 5…

The population of the United States is aging and will age even more rapidly in the coming years. Yet our public and private retirement and benefits policies continue to favor early retirement--in spite of clear demographic trends, in spite of legislation raising the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70, in spite of the fact that many of our…

This booklet, which is intended for human resource managers, provides practical guidance regarding preparing for an aging work force. Chapter 1 concerns the relationship between business practices and age neutrality and offers checklists that human resource managers can use to assess their company's general policy development, training,…