Occupational age structure and access for older workers

This paper examines covariates of the occupational age structure and the op enness of jobs to older workers. Using a large number of data sets, which t ogether span the years 1983-98, the authors focus on the structure of compe nsation, job skill requirements, and working hours and conditions as the pr incipal determinants of occupational access. Older male and female workers, they find, face substantial entry barriers in occupations with steep wage profiles, pension benefits, and computer usage. In addition, union coverage is associated with limited access for older men, while older female hires are concentrated in occupations where flex-time, part-time work, and daytim e shifts are common. Segregation across occupations among older new hires e xceeds that for younger workers, but there is no evidence that it has worse ned over time.