Lost in time and space: temporal and spatial challenges facing older workers in a global economy from a career capital perspective

Tempest, Sue; Coupland, Christine

Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This paper develops a conceptual framework to enhance our understanding of the career challenges facing older workers in a global economy. A distinction between ‘high’ and ‘low’ career capital of older workers is made. This distinction is then used to highlight potential temporal and spatial challenges for older workers in their later life careers. We draw on empirical evidence from existing studies of older workers and their careers. The contribution of this paper to human resource management debates is threefold. Firstly, we contribute to debates in the HRM(Human Resource Management) literature about intelligent careers and career capital by distinguishing between high and low career capital to explain the polarisation of older workers’ careers. Secondly, we synthesise career capital issues with spatial and temporal aspects of international labour markets to conceptualise the key issues and challenges which create potential boundaries for older workers when navigating later life careers thereby contributing to ‘boundary-focused scholarship’ (Inkson, K., Gunz, H., Ganesh, S., & Roper, J. (2012). Boundaryless careers; Bringing back boundaries, Organization Studies, 33, 323–340). Finally, we develop a series of propositions to provide a basis for further research into the issues of space and time relevant to older ‘high’ and ‘low’ career capital workers, their careers and HRM.

Citation

Tempest, S., & Coupland, C. (2017). Lost in time and space: temporal and spatial challenges facing older workers in a global economy from a career capital perspective. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(15), 2159-2183. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2015.1128455

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 12, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 22, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 14, 2016
• Journal: International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Print ISSN: 0958-5192
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-4399
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 15
• Pages: 2159-2183
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2015.1128455
• Keywords: Career capital, Space, Boundaries, International labour markets, Time, Intelligent career theory, Older workers’ careers
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/772203
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09585192.2015.1128455
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rijh20