Recent changes in mortality and labor force behavior among older Americans: consequences for nonworking life expectancy.

Increment-decrement working life tables for 1972 and 1980 are used to assess the relative impact of recent changes in mortality and labor force behavior on the number of years older men and women can expect to spend out of the labor force (nonworking life expectancy). The life tables are based on data from the Current Population Surveys and pertain to the population aged 55 and older for the two observation points. The results indicate that nonworking life expectancy increased dramatically between 1972 and 1980 for both men and women. Although labor force behavior changed markedly for both population groups during the observation period, the results clearly identify that changes in mortality were responsible for the increases in nonworking life expectancy. Implications of the findings for social policy are briefly discussed.