Are employers changing their behavior toward older workers?: an analysis of employers' surveys 2000-2009

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are employers changing their behavior toward older workers?: an analysis of employers' surveys 2000-2009

AU - Conen, W.S.

AU - Henkens, C.J.I.M.

AU - Schippers, J.

N1 - Reporting year: 2011

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - This article addresses possible changes in Dutch employers’ behavior regarding the recruitment and retention of older workers during the last decade. The authors analyze surveys administered to Dutch employers in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2009. The results show that efforts to recruit older workers are changing, congruous with the economic climate, while retention behavior shows a clear and rather gradual time effect. The authors conclude that the position of older workers has improved between 2000 and 2008 and has done so in comparison with other underrepresented groups in the labor market. During the recession, recruitment of older workers declined substantially, while efforts to retain older workers are in both absolute and relative terms higher than in 2000. With respect to organizational policies, the authors conclude that throughout the period under observation these policies are dominated by measures that “spare” older workers. keywords: aging; employers’ behavior; older workers; organizational policies; recruitment; retention.

AB - This article addresses possible changes in Dutch employers’ behavior regarding the recruitment and retention of older workers during the last decade. The authors analyze surveys administered to Dutch employers in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2009. The results show that efforts to recruit older workers are changing, congruous with the economic climate, while retention behavior shows a clear and rather gradual time effect. The authors conclude that the position of older workers has improved between 2000 and 2008 and has done so in comparison with other underrepresented groups in the labor market. During the recession, recruitment of older workers declined substantially, while efforts to retain older workers are in both absolute and relative terms higher than in 2000. With respect to organizational policies, the authors conclude that throughout the period under observation these policies are dominated by measures that “spare” older workers. keywords: aging; employers’ behavior; older workers; organizational policies; recruitment; retention.

U2 - 10.1080/08959420.2011.551612

DO - 10.1080/08959420.2011.551612

M3 - Article

SN - 0895-9420

VL - 23

SP - 141

EP - 158

JO - Journal of Aging and Social Policy

JF - Journal of Aging and Social Policy

IS - 2

ER -