tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235419263414453422.post7986676753404536036..comments2024-02-23T01:30:06.101-08:00Comments on Early Warning: Male Employment Population Ratio Going SidewaysStuart Stanifordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07182839827506265860noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235419263414453422.post-68656525236823065642010-10-09T08:53:52.724-07:002010-10-09T08:53:52.724-07:00i just realized i didn't get across what I wan...i just realized i didn't get across what I wanted to say clearly. What I wanted to be my final point is that I'm not naive enough to think that the lowering employment rate in this segment is a sign of improving quality of life and less necessity to work, but I do think that part of it is related to that a 52-year-old may now have the resources / options (dubious disability included) to have the ability to forgo picking up a menial job just to scrape some income together. Between expanded unemployment benefits, potential savings and an increase in government programs, it might not be worth the stress to pick up certain comparatively lower-paying jobs just for the sake of picking up a few dollars.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12854212312458729028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235419263414453422.post-10838227501913877312010-10-09T08:49:05.800-07:002010-10-09T08:49:05.800-07:00I appreciate the point you are making, but I do wo...I appreciate the point you are making, but I do wonder how many people were working until an unnecessarily late age in the past due to:<br /><br />a.) a lack of options (the not-so-dubious disability claims)<br /><br />b.) a lack of savings--a 55yr old worker now would have been beginning to save in 1980, just in time for the great 80s/90s equity rally and would have been slowly moving into bonds in the last 10 years (capturing the end of the 30-year bond market rally, so there might be some decent savings)<br /><br />c.) having the opportunity to / job security! I am not one of the "structural unemployment" doomsayers, but the reality is that many people near retirement age will have a harder time finding jobs due to outdated skills, being laid-off from companies that will rehire younger, cheaper labor / temps and run-of-the-mill age discrimination.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12854212312458729028noreply@blogger.com