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Britain’s Older Employees in Decline, 1990–2006: A Panel Analysis of Pay

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  • Deborah Smeaton

    (University of Westminster, UK)

  • Michael White

    (University of Westminster, UK)

Abstract

Older employees’ wages and earnings declined over the period 1991–2006, when compared with younger employees. The overall fall in relative wages was about 18 per cent, and for relative earnings 21 per cent. The article argues that this change was predictable in view of the pressures of ‘globalization’ resulting in increased competition, and intensified technological and organizational change, for many employers from the 1990s onward. The relative fall in older female and male employees’ pay had set in by the mid-1990s and it proceeded over the whole period to 2006.

Suggested Citation

  • Deborah Smeaton & Michael White, 2018. "Britain’s Older Employees in Decline, 1990–2006: A Panel Analysis of Pay," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 32(1), pages 93-113, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:32:y:2018:i:1:p:93-113
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017016687717
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    age; gender; globalization; pay;
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