Displacement and career transition of older workers

Lucia Barbosa de Oliveira, Eliana Cristina Motta da Silva
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21529/RECADM.2024016

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the career transition of older workers who had their corporate careers interrupted by lay-off. A qualitative and exploratory research approach was employed, involving 21 professionals aged between 45 and 60 years, who held managerial positions and were displaced from the private organizations in which they work. Data were obtained through individual interviews, conducted using the biographical method. The results revealed that the career transition was influenced by contextual and individual factors, including labor market conditions, ageism, duration of the transition, financial situation, social support, and individual characteristics. Regarding the transition results, three groups were identified and labelled as excluded, precarized, and nostalgic, according to their position in relation to the formal labor market. Despite having followed different paths, all participants found themselves in a notably worse position than before. From a theoretical perspective, these results allow us to question the career models that emphasize individual agency over contextual aspects. From an applied perspective, by bringing evidence of the vulnerability of older workers, we hope to draw attention to the need for public policies and organizational practices focused on valorizing the professional group.


Keywords

older worker; career transition; job displacement; ageism; discrimination

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