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Midlife work pathways and educational entry

Publication ,  Journal Article
Elman, C; O'Rand, AM
Published in: Research on Aging
July 1, 1998

This study examines how work pathways intersect with the pursuit of education and vocational training at midlife. The authors link two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) to focus on respondents ages 42 to 62 at the second wave (1992-94; n = 3,417). First, they differentiate work pathways by examining sequences of employment and nonemployment or unemployment spells. It is found that initial inequalities in educational attainment are amplified and increase over the life course, in a nonlinear manner. Work discontinuity is significantly related to poor health, lack of pensions, and life trajectories marked by low socioeconomic status. Gender, race, and life-course events also influence work mobility. In turn, educational reentry and training at midlife are associated with resources, work pathway type, and early educational achievement. The interdependence of work pathways and midlife educational reentry patterns may further differentiate the trajectories between work and retirement in future older cohorts.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Research on Aging

DOI

ISSN

0164-0275

Publication Date

July 1, 1998

Volume

20

Issue

4

Start / End Page

475 / 505

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

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Elman, C., & O’Rand, A. M. (1998). Midlife work pathways and educational entry. Research on Aging, 20(4), 475–505. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027598204005
Elman, C., and A. M. O’Rand. “Midlife work pathways and educational entry.” Research on Aging 20, no. 4 (July 1, 1998): 475–505. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027598204005.
Elman C, O’Rand AM. Midlife work pathways and educational entry. Research on Aging. 1998 Jul 1;20(4):475–505.
Elman, C., and A. M. O’Rand. “Midlife work pathways and educational entry.” Research on Aging, vol. 20, no. 4, July 1998, pp. 475–505. Scopus, doi:10.1177/0164027598204005.
Elman C, O’Rand AM. Midlife work pathways and educational entry. Research on Aging. 1998 Jul 1;20(4):475–505.
Journal cover image

Published In

Research on Aging

DOI

ISSN

0164-0275

Publication Date

July 1, 1998

Volume

20

Issue

4

Start / End Page

475 / 505

Related Subject Headings

  • Gerontology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences