Competence and learning in late career

Issues of late career have recently attracted much political and public interest but contributions from research have been meagre. In this article, a review is made of the literature on cognitive ageing and learning abilities in an occupational context. Multidimensional and non-linear perspectives are increasingly replacing models of late career as a period of declining expertise. Data from a European Union Framework Program 4 research project 'Working Life Changes and the Training of Older Workers' (WORKTOW) supports such a redefinition. Also, the optimistic scenarios for late career that are held out by the literature on 'boundaryless careers' are challenged. A sociocultural framework that is more sensitive to the institutional and cultural context of age differences in learning at work is asked for.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

Issues of late career have recently attracted much political and public interest but contributions from research have been meagre. In this article, a review is made of the literature on cognitive ageing and learning abilities in an occupational context. Multidimensional and non-linear perspectives are increasingly replacing models of late career as a period of declining expertise. Data from a European Union Framework Program 4 research project 'Working Life Changes and the Training of Older Workers' (WORKTOW) supports such a redefinition. Also, the optimistic scenarios for ...  [+] Show more