Older Workers: Who are the working poor in the U.S.?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Socioeconomics
• Public Health

Background:

• Poverty among older adults is a growing concern.
• Understanding the characteristics of the working poor is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) provides valuable longitudinal data on this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile older workers experiencing poverty.
• To compare demographic, financial, employment, and health attributes of the working poor versus the working non-poor.
• To identify risk factors associated with working poverty in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2000 Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
• Employed multivariate logistic regression analyses.
• Compared characteristics of older workers (ages 51-61) living in poverty to those not living in poverty.

Main Results:

• 3.5% of employed individuals aged 51-61 were classified as working poor.
• Older working poor were more likely to be non-White, less educated, and unmarried.
• They possessed lower net worth and were less likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance, often working part-time.

Conclusions:

• Older working poor individuals exhibit distinct demographic, financial, and employment profiles.
• Educational attainment, race, marital status, and wealth are significant factors associated with working poverty in this age group.
• Lack of employer-sponsored health insurance is a key vulnerability for older working poor.