The patterns of early retirement among Jordanian men

Abstract EN

Utilizing detailed data from Jordan Labor Market Panel Survey (JLMPS), this study examines early retirement patterns among Jordanian men.

It explores the demographic and economic characteristics of the early retirees and their tendency to return to the labor market after retirement.

The study finds that nearly 85 % of the living retirees had retired early.

It also shows that around 45 % of male early retirees return to the labor market and occupy jobs characterized to some degree by informality (e.

g.

no health insurance, no social security, comparatively lower wages, no paid leaves).

However, they are concentrated in limited number of occupations, notably sale workers, drivers and protective services workers.

Economically active early pension receivers, however, appear to suffer from high unemployment rates, amounting to 20 %, particularly those retiring from the private sector.

The main findings of the study also show that both more education and bigger family size tend to increase the propensity of early retirees’ returning to the labor market.

The study sheds some light on the retirement decision at the individual level.

JEL Classification : J26, J21.