Labor market behavior and retirement in the Americas

Chapter II of the Americas Social Security Report 2012 describes the main regional trends in labor variables around statutory retirement ages. It analyzes labor force participation, intensity of work by older adults, earnings of wotking older adults, characteristics of occupied labor, and urban/rural comparisons.

In previous notes we saw some graphs and results, but these are the main conclusions of the chapter:
- Individuals around retirement ages are working more in the Americas when compare 2010 with 1970, with few exceptions.
- There remains a decline in participation in the labor force that usually begins around age 50 and accelerates at age 60.
- Those staying in the market after age 50 have low unemployment, but they work gradually less hours per week.
- There is a very sharp decline in average earnings after age 50 in Latin America.
- By age 60, workers have become self-employed or employers.
- Young women work more in the urban sector, whereas adult women have higher participation in rural areas. Men in the rural sector have higher participation rates, except for the age groups between 30 and 59 years ald when rates are similar. Hours worked and wages are always higher in urban areas.