Satisfied employees retire later.

What influence does the approaching retirement age have on the job satisfaction of employees in Germany? A recent Study has addressed this question. The results show that job satisfaction marginally decreases as retirement approaches. The study shows that employees who retire later tend to be more satisfied with their work and only show a minor decrease in their satisfaction. A positive working environment is therefore an important factor when it comes to deciding to retire later.

ob satisfaction increases over the course of working life

Job satisfaction is important both for the individual and for the employer. It is not only associated with better mental and physical health, but is also a strong predictor of higher productivity and lower turnover intentions. Longitudinal studies also show that job satisfaction increases over the course of working life. According to the studies, older employees are often more satisfied with their work than younger employees.

Two main explanations are given for the positive effects of age on job satisfaction. On the one hand, employees change jobs and companies in the course of their working lives. They are more likely to stay in an environment that makes them happy. This means that older employees have already worked long enough to find a satisfying job or to organise it according to their needs. On the other, they are generally better off in finding satisfaction at work. Older employees may have better emotion control strategies to deal with the daily stress factors at work; they tend to focus more on emotion control than on knowledge acquisition.

Large differences according to socio-economic characteristics

The last years of work before retirement differ from the previous working life. During this time, employees are facing new challenges, not least because of the impending retirement. They begin to grapple with the prospect of retirement and in some cases tend to withdraw from working life. To analyse these influences, the study looks at job satisfaction ten years prior to retirement in Germany. The study shows a minor but statistically significant decline in job satisfaction in the final years leading to retirement. The differences are huge. It was not gender or caring responsibilities but education, age, health, region and marital status that were important for the level and change in job satisfaction prior to retirement. Employees with a higher level of education or good health are less likely to experience a decline in job satisfaction.

Working environment and health protection influence retirement.

The results of the study emphasise the importance of age-appropriate work design and measures to promote job satisfaction among older employees. In times of demographic change and an increasing standard retirement age, it is crucial to create a motivating working environment and to support employees' health through prevention.