Work engagement of older employees: do employee and work-related factors matter?

Abstract

Today’s shortage of qualified workers due to population aging and emigration requires putting more emphasis on older employees and also developing specific measures so that to increase their work engagement. However, employers prefer to hire younger individuals who are assumed to be flexible, and more acquainted with new information technologies. Meanwhile, older employees are seen as less engaged in work, less familiar with lifelong learning and also coping with deteriorating health issues. This paper focuses on older employees working in science, education and public organizations of Lithuania. Being grounded on the prevailing theories in this regard, the paper aims to investigate employee- and work-related factors around this problem. The data obtained allows us confirm that work scheduling autonomy, decision-making autonomy, managerial orientation, career achievement, dedication to work, feedback from work influence work engagement of older employees. The study let us develop insights for managers and recommendations for future investigations in the same field.