Intersecting inequalities in retirement trajectories under a privatized pension system: Gender, labor force status, and occupational prestige
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Date
2026
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Abstract
This study examines the gendered and de-standardized nature of retirement trajectories in Chile, a country with a long-standing privatized pension system. Drawing on life course theory and using nationally representative panel data from the Social Protection Survey (2004–2020), we apply multichannel sequence analysis to reconstruct retirement pathways based on labor force status and occupational prestige. Our analysis identifies six representative retirement patterns for both men and women, revealing stark gender differences. Men predominantly experience gradual transitions, often through partial retirement or bridge employment, while women's trajectories are marked by abrupt labor market exits and prolonged periods of inactivity. Occupational prestige significantly shapes these patterns. Individuals in high-prestige occupations tend to follow more uniform and delayed retirement paths, whereas those in low-prestige roles exhibit greater diversity and complexity. We find that retirement trajectories in Chile are moderately de-standardized and strongly gendered, with men displaying higher within-group diversity and complexity. These findings highlight the interplay between institutional design, labor market structures, and gender norms in shaping retirement outcomes. In particular, Chile's individual capitalization model reinforces life course inequalities, limiting retirement options for those with fragmented work histories, especially women. Our results underscore the need for policy reforms that address structural disadvantages in labor force participation and pension accumulation, particularly among low-prestige and female workers. This study contributes to broader debates on the de-standardization of the life course, gendered retirement inequalities, and the implications of liberal welfare regimes in aging societies.
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Keywords
Retirement trajectories, Gender inequalities, De-standardization, Sequence analysis, Occupational prestige, Extended working lives