Summary

The aim of this paper is to analyse the incidence of part-time work among older workers with disabilities as compared to non-disabled counterparts within a European context. Data are drawn from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The key advantage of this dataset is that provides a harmonized cross-national dimension which is indispensable to carry out any internationally comparable analysis. We have information for European individuals aged 50 years or over on a wide range of health indicators, disability, socio-economic situation, labour force participation, family, social relations, etc. The results show that older people with disabilities (aged 50-64) are more likely to have a part-time job compared to non-disabled ones. Although there is a important employment gap between both groups, many older workers with disabilities are using part-time work to achieve a better adjustment between health limitations and working life. The econometric analysis corroborates that being disabled has a positive effect on the probability of working part-time although this effect varies by country. Policy makers must encourage part-time employment as a means of increasing the employment opportunities for older worker with disabilities and support gradual retirement opportunities with flexible and reduced working hours. It is crucial to change attitudes towards older people with disabilities in order to increase their labour participation and reduce their levels of poverty and marginalization