Influence of social and work related factors on delayed retirement intention among University employees in Osun State,Nigeria.
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Date
2016
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sociology and Anthroplogy, Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
Delayed retirement is gaining momentum in Nigeria, and the preference for longer working careers is expected to continue. Emerging evidence indicates that delayed retirement could increase unemployment, reduce productivity and create a structural imbalance in the labour force. Nonetheless, marginal research attention exists on how social and work-related factors influence retirement intent. With a view to providing plausible explanations as to why retirement delays are becoming more widespread in Nigeria, this study explored the meanings attached to retirement among university employees in Osun State; examined the socio-demographic factors that provide likely explanations for individuals’ propensity to delay retirement; investigated the elements of work that exert some influence on retirement intention; and examined the social and cultural factors that might account for the trend of delayed retirement in Nigeria.
The study was conducted among academic and non-academic staff of two public owned universities (Obafemi Awolowo University and Osun State University). The study used primary data generated by quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data was collected through the administration of questionnaire. The qualitative data was from in-depth interviews with key union leaders of the academic and non-academic staff unions of the two universities. Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling design was adopted. One-tenth of the total academic and non-academic staff from both universities was targeted, to ensure a relative representation of respondents from the two groups targeted for the study. In total, 380 employees within both categories were selected. Recruitment of interviewees for the qualitative phase was purposive. At this level, 10 in-depth interviews were conducted, which consisted of two union executives (for ASUU and SSANU), 4 Heads of Departments and 4 members of staff whose ages were above 55years.
The study revealed that retirement behaviour is a multifactorial phenomenon. The quantitative results showed that retirement intention was not statistically associated with individual variables like age (p>0.05), income (p>0.05), gender (p>0.05), marital status and number of dependents (p>0.05) and level of education (p>0.05). In the work domain, job satisfaction (p<0.05), job demands (p<0.05), and interpersonal relationship (p<0.05) at work were salient predictors of retirement timing. At the macro level, the strongest predictor of retirement intention was the availability of alternate employment opportunities (p<0.05). Respondents also linked retirement intent to social security coverage and re-employment opportunities for retirees. The view was further corroborated with the qualitative findings.
The study concluded that some level of correspondence exists between work and non-work predictors of retirement intention and the retirement timing of employees. In the work domain, study results project that extended work careers are more likely to be found among employees with high levels of job satisfaction and job attachment, low levels of job demands, strong occupational identity, and finally, among individuals with strong social networks at work. Outside the work context, there are indications that financial adequacy concerns and individuals’ feelings about inadequate social support in retirement could explain workers’ proclivity for delayed retirement.
Description
xii, 192p
Keywords
Employees, University employees, Retirement intention, Delayed retirement, Unemployment