The Older Workers’ Health and Well-being Study: Identifying how access to workplace benefits and policies (employer-provided health insurance, retirement savings programs, ability to reduce hours) influence health and well-being of workers aged 50 & older

The Older Workers’ Health and Well-being Study will focus on workers aged 50 and older through analysis of six waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal panel study that surveys every two years a nationally representative sample of people aged 50 years and older living in the U.S.

Project Lead: Cal Halvorsen, PhD, MSW
Project Co-Lead: Erika L. Sabbath, ScD

The Older Workers’ Health and Well-being Study was developed in response to increasing concerns about the health, safety, and well-being of the older workforce and calls from NIOSH’s Total Worker Health® Program and the National Occupational Research Agenda for increased research on the aging workforce. By 2050, 24% of the U.S. labor force is projected to be made up of workers aged 55 years and older, up from 13% in 2000, with notable increases in older women’s labor force participation rates through at least 2029.

This study will:

• investigate associations between workplace benefits and policies and older workers’ health, mental health, and enjoyment in work over time; and
• determine how age and gender modify the relationships between workplace benefits and policies on older workers’ health, mental health, and enjoyment in work.

Project Timeline: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2026