Previous studies have shown that occupational status in the career of older people determines whether they work beyond the pensionable age, and they have focused mainly on men. Using 2015 SSM data, I examine the gendered effects of past occupational status from the first job to pre-retirement on work beyond the pensionable age through the potential outcome framework. The approach from the long-term occupational status provides an explanation for work beyond the pensionable age of not only men but also women, who are more likely to experience interruptions in their occupational career.

The analyses reveal that occupational status has a negative effect on older men and a positive effect on older women. The results suggest that women who are temporarily out of work and continue to remain in a low socioeconomic status are exposed to durable opportunity cost losses and work in old age.