Work engagement among older workers: a systematic review

Objectives: Given current labor force conditions, including population aging, keeping older workers engaged in work and motivated is important. Aging may alter the effects that psychological and environmental factors have on work engagement. We conducted a systematic review to understand the features of work engagement among older workers.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in July 2022 using 4 databases. The review included relevant articles that focused on participants aged 40 years and older.Results: Fifty articles were selected for our review, which were grouped into 5 categories: (1) studies examining the relationship between chronological age and work engagement, (2) studies investigating the moderating effects of age on the relationship between job-related psychological factors and work environment factors and work engagement, (3) studies comparing the relationship of job-related psychological factors and work environment factors with work engagement across different age groups, (4) studies exploring the relationship between work engagement and retirement intentions or continued employment beyond retirement age, and (5) other studies discussing work engagement in the context of older workers. Most articles focused on workers in Europe and the United States and used observational study designs.Conclusions: Work engagement increases with age, and is mainly mediated by increased emotional regulation. In addition, age moderates the relationships between various job-related psychological and work-environmental factors and work engagement. Work engagement is associated with working beyond retirement age. Organizations should understand the characteristics of work engagement among older workers and make age-conscious efforts to support them in adapting to social changes. Key pointsIt has been known that work engagement increases with age and that age modifies the relationship between various job-related psychological factors and work engagement. However, there has been no systematic review of the findings on work engagement among older workers and its theoretical background. The results of this study suggest the following: (1) that the increase in work engagement with age is primarily due to the effects of increased emotional regulation; (2) that the moderating effect of age on the relationship between various job-related factors and work engagement may be explained by developmental psychological theories such as the selection optimization and compensation theory and the socioemotional selective theory, and (3) that higher work engagement is associated with working beyond retirement age. As the labor force ages, especially in developed countries, organizations should understand the characteristics of work engagement among older workers and make age-conscious efforts to help workers achieve well-being and adapt to society. In addition, research on work engagement should fully take into account the effects of age.