Previous research has found a consistent, positive relationship between age and commitment to work and the job. However, it is not clear if it is age per se or correlates of age, such as job tenure or length of service within the firm, that account for observed gains in work commitment over the life cycle. This question is examined here through a multivariate analysis of data from a large, representative probability sample of the U.S. work force. Within a multivariate framework, age has little independent effect on work commitment. Job satisfaction and occupational prestige do, however. The findings of this study are related to recent speculation about the decline of the "work ethic" among younger workers in the United States and to recent retirement trends.
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