The determinants of hiring older workers: UK evidence

This is the first research using UK establishment data to examine the relationship between back loading of compensation, training and the hiring of older workers. Recognizing that many firms employ older workers but do not hire older workers, we argue this may reflect strategic deferred compensation or the role of specific human capital. Using the combined establishment and employee data of the 1998 WERS, we identify that firms which defer compensation hire a smaller share of older workers and present somewhat weaker evidence that firms which require greater specific human capital also hire a smaller share of older workers.