The Third Way? Older Workers' and Younger Retirees' Time in Paid Work and Civic Engagement

Phyllis Moen, University of Minnesota
Sarah Flood, University of Minnesota
Vincent Louis, University of Minnesota

Research underscores social engagement in meaningful activities as key to health and well-being, with retirement age Americans at risk of isolation We draw on time-use data from the American Time Use Survey (2003-2006) to examine daily time spent in either paid or unpaid (volunteer) work for 5-year subgroups of American men and women ages 40-70. Some college education and low non-self earned income predict continued employment for older adults, as does being white. Having children still at home and/or caring for an aging relative reduces time spent in paid work for men and women in their 40s, and for women in their 50s. Volunteering predicts less time spent in employment for men in their 40s and 60s, and for women in their 40s and later 50s. Time spent in paid and volunteer work has increased for older Americans from 2003 to 2006. Health (2006 only) predicts more time in volunteering and employment.