https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1512-9176
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ABSTRACT
Amid ongoing global economic uncertainty and long-standing efforts to tackle age discrimination and increase older workers’ labor force engagement, it is pertinent to consider age differences in the individual effects of joblessness. This is paramount for informing support services, policy formulation, and research. This article is based on a literature review of international peer reviewed quantitative research that has examined the relationship between age, psychological wellbeing and unemployment. Two hundred and twenty-six studies were screened and 36 were included. No relevant qualitative studies were identified. Among the studies, there was a broad consensus that there are age differences in terms of the psychological consequences of unemployment. However, they showed mixed evidence, and critical conceptual and methodological deficiencies were identified. We conclude that the body of evidence is weak and that drawing from it for the development of practice and policy in support of jobless individuals is to be cautioned against.
Key points
Numerous studies have considered age differences in the psychological effects of unemployment, but many are beset by conceptual and methodological problems.
Studies point to the “middle-aged” as being most at risk from adverse psychological consequences of unemployment, but such findings should be treated with caution.
Considering heterogeneity within cohorts and age groupings, there is a need for more research that considers how joblessness is experienced across the lifespan.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2022.2136918