Analysis of Factors Related to Retirement Intentions of Upper Level Civil Service Employees in the Air Force

摘要

This study investigated factors thought to influence retirement intentions of technical managers, age 52 and above, within AF Civil Service. Many of these personnel are eligible or will be eligible for retirement within the next 5 years. This research sought to identify factors that significantly predict the intent to retire and to estimate attrition losses due to retirement in the next 5 years. Data was collected by a mail survey of GM13 - GM15 managers in engineering and other technical professions. A model of retirement was developed and tested to determine the significant factors that predicted retirement intentions. Age, tenure, the influence of job on health, number of dependents, perceived parity of current pay, proportion of retirement income from civil service, post retirement plans, and spousal influence were found to be significant predictors. These predictors accounted for a total of 40% of the retirement intent variance. Work and job attitudes were found not to be significant predictors of intent to retire. With respect to retirement plans, over 61% of the research population expressed the intent to retire prior to 1991 under the current retirement system. The option for early retirement resulted in an accelerated retirement trend over the near term.