Contractual Arrangements and the Retirement Intentions of Women in Australia

Older women represent an increasing proportion of Australia’s paid labour force. Lacking is an understanding of how the nature of the contractual arrangement between worker and employer is associated with women’s retirement intentions. Utilising data from a national survey of older women and employment, regression analysis is reported that tests the association between contractual arrangements and other meso level factors on the number of years until respondents’ intended retirement. Taking a range of factors into account, it is found that those in casual employment anticipate retiring later than those with other employment arrangements. It is argued that, firstly, there is definitional ambiguity about flexible working that renders present calls for its promotion for older workers potentially problematical; secondly, policy continues to focus on an androcentric norm which presents risks for women in negotiating retirement; and, thirdly, a pro-work agenda for older people needs to have job quality as a core value.