United Kingdom

Abstract

In response to concerns about the rising cost of State Pensions and the prospect of skills shortages, successive United Kingdom (UK) governments have introduced a range of legislative changes designed to extend working life. Policy discourse emphasises individual responsibility for saving towards retirement, and in recent years there has been a shift away from collective pension provision. Changes to employment regulations and pension schemes have been portrayed both as an economic necessity and as offering older workers greater choice and control over work in later life. However, gendered patterns of paid employment and unpaid caring work over the lifecourse mean that women are systematically disadvantaged in terms of employment opportunities in later life and access to pension income in retirement. Extended working life policies may also negatively impact upon older workers in poor health, since the UK does not have a disability pension and individuals cannot claim their State Pension early.