Characteristics and health conditions in older people who work in Mexico. A comparative analysis between cohorts and sex.

Abstract

Background: The study of the work and health of older adults is limited but relevant considering that the living and health conditions in which they age are not the best in Mexico, given the job insecurity that does not access to decent contributory pensions.

Objective: To analyse the differences in the sociodemographic, labour and health conditions characteristics of two cohorts of older people aged 65 to 74 years who are employed in the labour market.

Material and methods: Analysis of the National Study of Health and Aging in Mexico for 2001 and 2021 of sociodemographic and work characteristics and health conditions by cohort and sex. Logistic regression models, whose dependent variable was the birth cohort, were estimated.

Results: 1,115 people from 2001 and 1,189 from 2021 between 65 and 74 years old who worked the week before the study were included. By sex and cohort, findings are presented.

Conclusions: Although the schooling of older people in the most recent cohort has increased, women face more precarious working conditions and a higher prevalence of disability.