AN EXAMINATION OF EARLY RETIREMENT IN IRELAND BEFORE AND AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION. ESRI SURVEY AND STATISTICAL REPORT SERIES NUMBER 61 November 2017

Kelly, Elish and McGuinness, Seamus and Redmond, Paul (2017) AN EXAMINATION OF EARLY RETIREMENT IN IRELAND BEFORE AND AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION. ESRI SURVEY AND STATISTICAL REPORT SERIES NUMBER 61 November 2017. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

In order to develop a better understanding of older workers’ decisions to leave the labour force early, and how this may vary over the economic cycle, this report examines early retirement patterns in Ireland. We find that people with medium and higher levels of education are more likely to retire early. This may result from more highly educated people having accumulated higher wealth and so being in a more favourable position to retire. But whatever the reason, the result is interesting in the context of extending working lives. It is generally accepted that more highly educated people will be better placed to work longer given the nature of their occupations. The analysis here suggests that policy measures will have to be more intense if those more likely to retire early (the more highly educated) are to be maintained in the workforce.

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