The percentage of people who work in part-time, paid employment increases with age.

According to the ONS Labour Force Survey for Q2 of 2008, whereas just under 5% of men aged 25-49 were working part time, the percentage increased to around 12% of men in the 50-state pension age (SPA) group, and then shot up to nearly two thirds (64%) of men who were working beyond SPA.

For women, of course, part-time working is far more common at all ages but does not vary much across age groups below SPA.

For example, the same survey found nearly 39% of women aged 25-49 worked part-time. This increased slightly to nearly 42% for those aged 50-SPA but rose significantly to 70% of women who were working beyond SPA.

(December 2009)