Older Women: Retailing Utilizes a Neglected Workforce Resource

Abstract

This investigation reports on the attitudes that a small group of older women working in retailing has toward continuing to participate in the workforce. Women aged over 50 generally have fewer formal educational achievements than their younger counterparts, and many of our sample (80%) have experi enced periods out of the workforce to raise families. As a group their access to superannuation has been low prior to the 1989 legislation and consequently the majority would anticipate little financial payout in the event of ceasing to work. Retailing has offered them both full-time and part-time employment opportunities, which, despite low wages, leads to reported high levels of job satisfaction, little consideration of the possibilities of retirement, and a sizable group (11%) willing to work beyond 65 if the opportunity were available. Other industries might also benefit from providing working opportunities to older women whose potential to contribute to the workforce appears to have been largely underrated.