ABSTRACT

One of the most important labor market phenomena in the post-war era has been the dramatic decrease in the labor force activity of older men, a trend found throughout the industrialized world.

Table 2.1.1 shows employment rates in 16 OECD nations, from 1970 through 1991, for men aged 55 to 59, 60 to 64, and 65 or older. With the single exception of the youngest group of Japanese men, employment rates have dropped in each of these age groups in every country, and in many cases, have dropped precipitously.