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The employment and retirement transitions of New Zealanders aged in their 60s

Summary

This paper investigates the employment patterns and transitions of workers aged in their 60s. The study focused on New Zealanders who were born between 1 April 1936 and 31 March 1940 and aged in their ‘60s during the 1999–2007 period.

The paper examines the employment rates and income support patterns of the study population, identifying the main changes that occurred with increasing age, for men and women and for different birth cohorts. It also describes the employment patterns and transitions to retirement of this age group, giving particular attention to the question of whether traditional or phased transitions from work to retirement were more common.

The employment rate of the study population declined gradually with each month and year of age, from 60 to 69. Most people did not stop working at their 65th birthday: rather, they stopped working at a wide range of ages. The majority made at least one transition out of employment prior to their final exit from paid work. Among those who continued to work into their mid to late 60s, part-year and part time employment became increasingly common. Phased transitions from work to retirement were more common than ‘traditional’ retirements involving a single and permanent transition from full-time employment to inactivity.

Author: Sylvia Dixon and Dean Hyslop

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