How Do Financial Resources Affect the Timing of Retirement after a Job Separation?

Abstract

This study examines working people between the ages of 50 and 70 years old and the conditions that lead them to decide to retire or not after they experience a job separation. Based on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the author finds that among individuals whose jobless spells end in retirement, most decide to retire within a year after separation. The availability of resources such as Social Security retirement benefits, high net worth, and income from defined benefit pensions appear to encourage more rapid labor force exit and retirement, rather than supporting job seekers during a long search. Perhaps surprisingly, no correlation between retirement and the unemployment rate occurs, but unemployment insurance benefits do delay retirement. These results suggest little tolerance for long job searches regardless of labor market prospects and indicate that those who can afford to retire will do so rather quickly.