Staffing agency: A bridge to working during retirement.
Anita Björklund Carlstedt, Gustav Jacobsson, Cecilia Bjursell and 2 others
PMID 35527594WHAT IT FOUND
Retired Swedish workers at a staffing agency reported low hours (mostly under 25 per month) and high job-switching.
Men worked for social connection and well-being, while single women worked primarily out of economic necessity. Most valued new challenges and appreciation.
Key findings
01Most respondents worked between 5 and 25 hours per month, and the majority (73%) performed tasks different from their previous careers.
02Motivations differed by gender and marital status: single women were more likely to work due to poor economy, while men and married individuals often cited social fellowship and well-being.
03Work frequency peaked two years after retirement, and a significant portion (37%) of respondents wanted to work more hours.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study lacks an external reference group of retirees not working, so it cannot determine if these motivations are unique to bridge workers. Health status was not directly measured; the sample consists of individuals healthy enough to accept agency work, which may exclude those with significant functional limitations. Self-reported data from a single staffing agency in Sweden may not generalize to other countries or employment contexts. The cross-sectional design captures a snapshot in time, limiting insights into how motivations change over longer periods of retirement.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to retirees with significant health or functional limitations. The study only surveyed individuals well enough to be hired by a staffing agency, so it does not represent the broader retired population, particularly those who cannot work or have complex needs.