Table 3.
Characteristics of 11,958 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Participants at the Time of the First Interview by EQ Trajectory, Health and Retirement Study 1992–2016
| EQ Trajectory | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wealthy Business Owners (N = 683) |
Independent Contractors/ Gig workers (N = 477) |
Great EQ to Well-off Retirement (N = 1,329) |
Good EQ to Well-off Retirement (N = 1,519) |
Fair EQ to Good but Diminishing Wealth in Retirement (N = 1,494) |
Poor EQ to Delayed and Poor Retirement (N = 758) |
Minimally Attached and Returning (N = 1,387) |
Workers with Premature Mortality (N = 1,151) |
Minimally Attached and Wealthy (N = 1,643) |
Unattached and Poor (N = 1,517) |
||
| % or mean (SE) | |||||||||||
| Non-housing financial wealth ($) | 313,860 (41,485) | 59,405 (8,375) | 151,845 (24,482) | 87,871 (11,447) | 55,475 (6,374) | 63,755 (19,899) | 55,268 (4,999) | 28,989 (3,818) | 271,374 (29,459) | 1,751 (4,671) | 112,665 (8,931) |
| Labor force status | |||||||||||
| Currently working full time/part time OR in partial retirement by choice | 4.6% | 9.4% | 99.1% | 97.7% | 93.6% | 78.2% | 45.1% | 40.2% | 20.1% | 10.1% | 54.9% |
| in partial retirement, some choice | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| in partial retirement, not by choice | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 2.1% | 6.6% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Self- Employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Homemaker | 3.4% | 5.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 7.7% | 20.9% | 9.2% | 34.4% | 26.5% | 12.3% |
| Disabled | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 2.3% | 10.5% | 29.6% | 11.1% | 39.8% | 10.1% |
| Weekly hoursa | 48.1 (0.8) | 38.6 (1.0) | 47.0 (0.3) | 41.9 (0.2) | 40.2 (0.4) | 30.2 (0.7) | 32. (0.9) | 38.3 (1.0) | 29.7 (1.1) | 22.8 (1.4) | 39.6 (0.2) |
| Annual weeks workeda | 48.8 (0.4) | 47.0 (0.6) | 50.7 (0.2) | 50.6 (0.2) | 49.5 (0.3) | 42.1 (0.6) | 41.9 (0.7) | 43.4 (0.9) | 41.5 (0.6) | 34.9 (0.9) | 45.4 (0.3) |
| Job tenure (years)a | 17.6 (0.6) | 13.8 (0.7) | 21.7 (0.4) | 14.3 (0.3) | 11.5 (0.3) | 6.6 (0.3) | 4.4 (0.4) | 14.1 (0.5) | 6.3 (0.6) | 5.8 (0.7) | 13.3 (0.2) |
| Longest job tenure (years) | 20.5 (0.5) | 17.5 (0.7) | 23.1 (0.4) | 17.2 (0.3) | 15.4 (0.3) | 11.9 (0.4) | 13.2 (0.4) | 15.8 (0.4) | 16.7 (0.4) | 13.2 (0.5) | 16.8 (0.2) |
| Number of times previously unemployed | 42.6 (6.5) | 46.1 (7.6) | 40.4 (1.3) | 42.7 (1.4) | 48.4 (1.4) | 49.6 (2.0) | 43.2 (2.0) | 43.0 (2.2) | 43.9 (2.2) | 26.5 (2.6) | 43.5 (0.6) |
| 0 | 87.2% | 79.1% | 90.7% | 76.3% | 70.8% | 59.7% | 58.4% | 68.3% | 75.1% | 73.0% | 73.5% |
| 1 | 6.4% | 10.5% | 6.2% | 14.4% | 15.3% | 14.3% | 15.3% | 12.0% | 11.0% | 7.4% | 11.5% |
| 2 or more | 6.4% | 10.3% | 3.1% | 9.4% | 13.9% | 25.9% | 26.4% | 19.7% | 14.0% | 19.5% | 15.0% |
| Income from salary/ wages ($) | 55,813 (4,139) | 20,125 (1,539) | 88,608 (2,970) | 54,706 (1,308) | 41,955 (1,139) | 23,839 (1,465) | 16,879 (1,306) | 25,219 (1,923) | 10,951 (980) | 2,631 (384) | 36,123 (1,057) |
| Weekly hours stable | |||||||||||
| No | 2.1% | 3.5% | 12.6% | 17.3% | 25.0% | 30.8% | 12.0% | 10.7% | 6.7% | 2.5% | 12.4% |
| Yes | 2.5% | 5.8% | 86.8% | 80.9% | 72.2% | 55.6% | 34.7% | 29.8% | 14.9% | 7.8% | 43.9% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Health insurance | |||||||||||
| No | 1.1% | 2.7% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 12.3% | 34.4% | 14.4% | 7.6% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 7.0% |
| Yes | 3.5% | 6.7% | 98.4% | 96.9% | 85.0% | 52.2% | 32.5% | 32.9% | 18.3% | 6.0% | 49.2% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.4% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.7% | 41.8% | 70.0% | 84.6% | 27.8% |
| Missing | |||||||||||
| Paid leave | |||||||||||
| No | 1.1% | 4.2% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 9.9% | 47.9% | 15.1% | 7.5% | 7.0% | 4.3% | 8.4% |
| Yes | 3.5% | 5.2% | 98.0% | 95.5% | 87.4% | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.0% | 14.5% | 5.9% | 47.9% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Employer contributes to pension | |||||||||||
| No | 2.3% | 6.8% | 3.3% | 10.3% | 40.4% | 68.8% | 32.1% | 15.5% | 12.6% | 6.3% | 18.0% |
| Yes | 2.4% | 2.5% | 96.0% | 87.7% | 56.5% | 17.3% | 13.8% | 24.9% | 9.0% | 3.8% | 38.1% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Overtime is paid | |||||||||||
| No | 3.1% | 4.2% | 55.1% | 21.5% | 16.7% | 11.7% | 6.8% | 9.4% | 4.3% | 1.6% | 15.7% |
| Yes | 1.5% | 4.3% | 43.4% | 76.0% | 78.0% | 67.5% | 36.0% | 29.6% | 16.3% | 5.3% | 38.6% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 3.7% | 2.2% |
| Union | |||||||||||
| No | 4.3% | 8.2% | 62.5% | 64.4% | 76.7% | 77.0% | 39.9% | 29.0% | 17.2% | 7.8% | 41.1% |
| Yes | 0.3% | 1.2% | 37.0% | 33.7% | 20.5% | 9.6% | 6.8% | 11.5% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 15.3% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Job involves a lot of stress | |||||||||||
| Disagree/strongly disagree | 1.6% | 3.3% | 24.3% | 32.7% | 34.9% | 42.9% | 20.9% | 15.2% | 10.1% | 4.0% | 19.7% |
| Agree/strongly agree | 3.0% | 4.6% | 75.1% | 65.6% | 62.3% | 43.5% | 25.4% | 24.9% | 11.0% | 5.5% | 35.8% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 87.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 9.7% | 14.7% | 4.8% | 0.9% | 13.6% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6.3% | 7.0% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 4.9% | 37.1% | 42.1% | 70.4% | 85.3% | 28.3% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Freedom to work more/less hours or less demanding job | |||||||||||
| No | 1.0% | 2.9% | 37.6% | 41.1% | 39.6% | 25.7% | 17.4% | 16.2% | 7.1% | 4.1% | 21.6% |
| Yes | 3.6% | 6.4% | 61.9% | 57.0% | 57.8% | 60.9% | 29.3% | 24.3% | 14.6% | 6.4% | 34.8% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Overtime is not required | |||||||||||
| No | 0.6% | 0.5% | 6.0% | 17.2% | 22.2% | 13.1% | 6.2% | 4.8% | 2.7% | 0.6% | 8.0% |
| Yes | 4.0% | 8.9% | 93.4% | 81.1% | 75.1% | 73.6% | 40.7% | 35.7% | 18.9% | 9.8% | 48.4% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Make decisions about the hiring, promoting, and firing of others | |||||||||||
| No | 2.9% | 7.1% | 65.5% | 82.1% | 85.0% | 78.7% | 43.3% | 33.4% | 18.5% | 10.0% | 46.0% |
| Yes | 1.7% | 2.3% | 33.6% | 16.1% | 11.5% | 7.6% | 3.4% | 7.0% | 3.0% | 0.3% | 10.2% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Firm size | |||||||||||
| Self | 32.0% | 59.5% | 1.0% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 6.5% | 8.7% | 7.7% | 3.6% | 1.5% | 7.9% |
| 2–100 | 59.1% | 32.6% | 43.0% | 42.3% | 55.1% | 57.8% | 30.1% | 29.6% | 15.2% | 5.5% | 35.0% |
| >100 | 4.2% | 1.5% | 44.8% | 40.6% | 27.5% | 10.4% | 9.5% | 12.9% | 5.2% | 1.8% | 18.8% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 1.4% | 2.0% | 11.2% | 14.3% | 13.7% | 14.3% | 8.2% | 5.0% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 8.0% |
| Job requires use of computers | |||||||||||
| At least some of the time | 2.3% | 2.9% | 66.3% | 57.1% | 40.0% | 25.3% | 11.0% | 14.6% | 8.5% | 1.6% | 26.9% |
| None or almost none of the time | 1.2% | 3.2% | 19.7% | 28.5% | 41.2% | 44.2% | 25.0% | 16.1% | 10.2% | 5.2% | 20.1% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 86.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 9.6% | 14.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 13.3% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.6% | 41.8% | 69.8% | 84.3% | 27.7% |
| Missing | 1.1% | 3.3% | 13.5% | 12.7% | 16.1% | 17.3% | 10.9% | 9.8% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 9.5% |
| Job requires physical effort | |||||||||||
| At least some of the time | 2.4% | 4.1% | 56.1% | 63.8% | 70.8% | 64.0% | 33.2% | 28.9% | 13.1% | 7.3% | 36.9% |
| None or almost none of the time | 2.2% | 3.7% | 43.3% | 34.5% | 26.4% | 22.4% | 13.1% | 11.2% | 8.1% | 2.2% | 18.8% |
| Self-employed | 92.1% | 87.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 9.7% | 14.7% | 4.8% | 0.9% | 13.6% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6.3% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 4.9% | 37.0% | 42.1% | 70.4% | 85.3% | 28.2% |
| Occupation | |||||||||||
| Farming | 12.5% | 3.3% | 0.3% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 4.2% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 2.0% |
| Managerial | 23.4% | 12.7% | 28.9% | 15.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 5.8% | 10.3% | 3.3% | 1.3% | 11.7% |
| Operator | 8.9% | 16.8% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 12.2% | 13.6% | 7.8% | 7.0% | 3.0% | 1.5% | 8.1% |
| Production | 4.3% | 6.7% | 13.2% | 18.6% | 19.0% | 7.5% | 7.7% | 8.3% | 3.0% | 1.4% | 9.6% |
| Professional | 21.4% | 17.0% | 26.7% | 19.8% | 13.7% | 11.6% | 5.6% | 6.0% | 4.2% | 0.8% | 12.5% |
| Services | 2.8% | 16.9% | 4.4% | 8.0% | 15.9% | 20.2% | 13.2% | 7.7% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 8.5% |
| Sales | 23.4% | 22.2% | 17.9% | 26.4% | 28.0% | 25.7% | 15.5% | 13.6% | 8.7% | 1.8% | 17.4% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.5% | 41.8% | 70.0% | 84.5% | 27.6% |
| Industry | |||||||||||
| Agriculture/forest/ hunting | 13.2% | 3.4% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 4.1% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 2.2% |
| Mining/construction | 10.8% | 17.6% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 6.2% | 7.3% | 3.9% | 2.7% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 4.6% |
| Transportation/ information/utilities | 7.0% | 4.4% | 20.7% | 17.5% | 13.9% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 3.3% | 1.2% | 10.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4.0% | 2.1% | 17.1% | 15.7% | 12.2% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 7.9% |
| Wholesale | 5.5% | 2.7% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 3.1% |
| Retail/food service | 10.2% | 11.8% | 4.0% | 6.3% | 11.4% | 15.7% | 9.5% | 8.1% | 3.5% | 1.8% | 7.2% |
| Finance/real estate/ insurance | 10.9% | 8.5% | 5.4% | 6.8% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 2.4% | 0.6% | 4.7% |
| Professional | 19.0% | 16.0% | 28.8% | 31.2% | 31.5% | 23.9% | 11.7% | 9.2% | 6.0% | 3.0% | 18.3% |
| Management/ support/waste | 10.8% | 14.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.7% | 4.5% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 4.6% |
| Personal services | 2.9% | 13.6% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 2.3% | 5.7% | 4.3% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 0.9% | 2.5% |
| Public administration & military | 2.4% | 1.4% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 1.9% | 5.2% | 1.4% | 0.3% | 4.5% |
| Unemployed | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 6.2% | 7.0% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| Not in the labor force | 2.5% | 3.7% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 36.8% | 42.1% | 70.1% | 84.5% | 27.8% |
Note. EQ = Employment Quality; SE = Standard Error. Percentages, means, and standard errors are calculated by accounting for survey weights, strata, and clusters.
aAmong those reporting currently working for pay at the time of their first interview.