Back to Work: A Study of post-retirement workers in the Senior Staffing Industry

Working after retirement is becoming increasingly common in the Swedish labor market. Statistics from the Swedish Pensions Agency show that approximately 264,000 Swedes have employment income while also receiving their public pension. Many of these post-retirement workers (in Swedish: Jobbonärer, is a blend of the Swedish words for “working” and “pensioner”) are employed through staffing agencies that specialize in retirees. Despite the growing media attention to the jobbonär group and senior staffing companies—embodying political ambitions of active aging and extended working lives—there is a lack of critical perspectives and research on their development and growth.

The aim of the project is to increase knowledge about post-retirement workers employed within and outside of senior staffing companies by:
(1) Mapping the historical development of jobbonaries  and senior staffing companies in Sweden,
(2) Explaining the demographic backgrounds of senior workers and their motivations for working, and
(3) Interpreting the discourses and narratives that are created, communicated, and legitimize post-retirement work within senior staffing companies and in society.

The project's research questions will be answered using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results will be interpreted from two theoretical perspectives: the capability approach and discourse theory, which critically examine the concept of “active aging.”

The research questions will be addressed through (a) registry data, (b) a survey conducted among senior workers in one or more Swedish senior staffing companies, (c) interviews with jobbonaries and operational managers, and (d) participatory ethnographic observations and narrative analysis of interviews, marketing materials, and senior fairs. Through a combination of methods and perspectives, the project contributes to increased knowledge and understanding of post-retirement workers in senior staffing companies.

The project aims, in collaboration with labor market stakeholders, to strengthen the research base and contribute knowledge about post-retirement workers both within and outside senior staffing companies. This knowledge can serve as the basis for policy-relevant recommendations that promote sustainable working conditions within this ‘new’ form of employment.

The research project is funded by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE) (ref: 2024-06067-01) and has received ethical approval (2024-06067-01).

Project Members: