A longer working life for Australian women of the baby boom generation? Women’s voices and the policy implications of an ageing female workforce
Monika Merkes
La Trobe University
Contact Email:   M.Merkeslatrobe.edu.au

With an increasing proportion of older people in the Australian population and increasing health and longevity, paid work after the age of 65 years may become an option or a necessity in the future. The focus of this paper is on Australian women of the baby boom generation, their working futures, and the work-retirement transition.

This was explored from the viewpoint of women and from a social policy perspective, comprising three studies: focus group research, computer-mediated communication involving an Internet website and four scenarios for the year 2020, and the analysis of quantitative data from a large survey.

The themes of a work – life balance and the availability of choices emerged throughout the research. Women in high-status occupations were found to be more likely to be open to the option of continuing paid work beyond age 65 than women in low-status jobs. However, the women were equally likely to embrace future volunteering.

Policies for an ageing female workforce should be based on the values of inclusiveness, fairness, self-determination, and social justice, and address issues of workplace flexibility, equality in the workplace, recognition for unpaid community and caring work, opportunities for life-long learning,
complexity and inequities of the superannuation system, and planning for retirement.

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