Policy makers in most industrialized countries are developing policies aimed at extending working life and promoting the benefits of employing older workers. Published in association with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, this report reviews developments in Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and the US. It offers a critical appraisal of current policies and highlights the fragmentation of these policies and the limited evidence for their effectiveness. It also shows how other countries are tackling age and employment issues.

The experience of an abrupt and often premature departure from work can leave individuals feeling disoriented and can prevent their valuable economic potential from being tapped. This report, published in association with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, explores the possibilities of more flexible forms of work that bridge the gap between a steady career job and retirement. It examines such jobs in the wider context of the types of transition that are being made by people retiring early and makes recommendations for future retirement policy in the UK.