Work-life expectancy accounts for expected labor force participation including periods of unemployment and eventual retirement, and is shorter than life expectancy. Published tables provide estimates by age, sex, and education.
It differs from simply projecting to retirement age.
Alternative Names:
Worklife Expectancy, Working Life Expectancy
Why it Matters?
Using life expectancy or a fixed retirement age instead of work-life tables inflates the projection substantially, since work-life accounts for unemployment spells and early exit from the labor force. Education level materially affects the tables, and applying a figure that does not match the claimant's actual attainment is a common error. Prior employment history showing irregular participation is separately relevant.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How does work-life differ from life expectancy?
What is the common error?
