Hidden Workers in Aging Australia: Protocol of Intersectionality-Informed Mixed Methods Study
Sora Lee, Woojin Kang, Lu Yang, Mehak Batra

TL;DR
This study explores the challenges faced by older Australians who are underused in the workforce and how their social identities affect their employment and health.
Contribution
This is the first intersectional study on hidden aging workers in Australia, combining mixed methods to inform equitable policies.
Findings
Hidden workers face employment barriers linked to intersecting social identities like age and health status.
The study will generate evidence to support policy interventions for workforce re-engagement and health equity.
Findings will help address labor shortages and promote inclusion of aging Australians.
Abstract
Australians are living longer and are expected to remain in the workforce for longer; yet, many older adults struggle to secure employment despite being willing and able to work. A growing share of these individuals are “hidden workers,” those underused in the labor market due to missed hours, long-term unemployment, or withdrawal from job seeking despite the capacity to work. This group reflects a global trend of aging yet underused workforces, and in Australia, they represent a significant proportion of the working-age population. Addressing the challenges of hidden workers is crucial, as their inclusion could help meet labor market demands, alleviate fiscal pressures of aging, and promote healthier, more equitable aging trajectories. This intersectional mixed methods study has 3 overarching aims. First, to investigate how intersecting social identities (eg, age, gender, cultural…
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Taxonomy
TopicsDiscrimination and Equality Law · Employment and Welfare Studies · Digital Economy and Work Transformation
