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Publications by Richard W. Johnson for Retirement Policy

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More about Richard W. Johnson's areas of expertise can be found on this Urban Institute expert's page.

As one of the fastest growing segments of the older population, Hispanics could become an important target for employers trying to attract and retain older workers. Older Hispanics participate in the labor force at relatively high rates and generally appear to be at least as healthy as non-Hispanic whites and healthier than blacks. Many, however, face substantial challenges in the workplace. They earn low wages and few benefits, and tend to work in physically demanding jobs that are often difficult to maintain into later life. Various policy reforms could boost older Hispanics' employment and earnings. Published by AARP (see link below.)

The recession has increased joblessness among older Americans. These graphs and tables report unemployment rates and how they have varied by age, sex, race, and education since 2007.

Career change is common at older ages. This report shows that 27 percent of workers employed full time at age 51 to 55 change occupations by age 65 to 69. More than one-third of older job leavers separate because of job layoffs or health problems, including nearly half of those who did not complete high school. Workers who change careers typically move into jobs that pay less than their previous jobs and are less likely to offer pension and health benefits. However, new careers tend to offer more flexible employment arrangements, less stressful working conditions, and fewer managerial responsibilities.

High out-of-pocket health care costs may have serious repercussions for older people and their families. This paper examines the impact of health problems at older ages on out-of-pocket health care spending and other types of expenditures. The results show that medical conditions increase health spending, particularly for households ages 51 to 64, but do not generally reduce nonhealth spending. Health conditions do, however, reduce nonhealth spending for low-income households ages 51 to 64, suggesting that holes in the health safety net before the Medicare eligibility age force some low-income people to lower their living standards to cover medical expenses.

Although poverty rates for Americans age 65 and older have plunged over the past half century, many people continue to fall into poverty as they approach 62, Social Security's early eligibility age. Among those who did not complete high school, hardship rates increase from 23 percent at age 52 to 54 to 31 percent at age 60 to 61, a relative increase of 36 percent. Hardship rates decline after age 62, when most people qualify for Social Security. These findings highlight the fragility of the income support system for Americans in their fifties and early sixties.

The unemployment rate for adults age 65 and older reached 6.8 percent in February 2009, the highest level recorded since the federal government began computing reliable unemployment rates in 1948. Senior unemployment rates were particularly high among African Americans, Hispanics, those who did not complete high school, and those in the construction, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality industries.

The 2008-2009 collapse in the stock market wiped out trillions of dollars in retirement account wealth and forced millions of boomers to rethink their retirement plans. Working longer is commonly seen as the key solution to the retirement financing dilemma. However, poor job prospects prevent many older people with limited education from working into later life. This testimony for the Senate Special Committee on Aging argues that Congress could improve the economic security of these older adults in retirement and in the years leading up to retirement by increasing government-funded employment and training services.

As the recession enters its 15th month, job losses continue to accelerate. The downturn has not spared older workers. The January 2009 unemployment rate reached 6.0 percent at age 55 to 64 and 5.7 percent at age 65 and older. Hispanic men, older men working in construction and manufacturing, and those with limited education have been hit hardest.

Unlike most previous recessions, the current economic slowdown has substantially increased the unemployment rate for older Americans. In December 2008, 5.1 percent of workers age 65 and older were unemployed, a higher share than at any time since March 1977. This factsheet provides the latest information on the employment situation of older Americans.

With nearly 300,000 Americans age 65 and older out of work, the recession is hitting older workers hard. Old-age unemployment rates are increasing more rapidly than in most previous downturns. This fact sheet provides the latest numbers on the employment situation for older Americans.

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