Career mobility in middle age: between forces of attraction and resistance

Abstract

Population aging increases the presence of older professionals in the labor market and requires new strategies to sustain careers in the long term. This article aims to understand the different forms of mobility triggered in midlife and their repercussions on career sustainability. Using Grounded Theory, 26 semi-structured interviews with midlife professionals were examined. As a result, physical, psychological, technological, identity-based, symbolic, bodily, temporal, and relational mobilities emerged as central dimensions for understanding these professionals’ trajectories. The findings show that these mobilities operate interdependently amid forces of attraction and resistance, expanding or restricting future possibilities. Conceptually, the article proposes a systemic model that integrates career mobility in midlife. It also highlights the need for public policies, organizational actions, and individual strategies that address these dimensions in a coordinated manner, promoting more sustainable careers in a constantly changing work context.