According to a new report from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, more than two-thirds of those who work after age 50 say that working boosts their physical health, mental health, and/or their overall wellbeing. Nearly half (46%) of those who work say that having a sense of purpose is a very important reason for doing so. The same percentage strongly agrees that working keeps their brain sharp.

But the poll also spotlights the barriers to working faced by older adults and reveals that some experience negative effects.

Among people aged 50 and over who work, 33% say their job has a negative effect on their physical health, and 29% say it has a negative effect on their mental health. Among working adults who say their mental health is fair or poor, 22% say they can’t take time off from work for health-related appointments, compared with 7% of those reporting better mental health.

The poll asked about barriers to work, both among those who work and among those who don’t currently work but also aren’t retired. The latter group includes 24% of people aged 50 to 64 and 5% of people aged 65 and over.

Overall, 39% of all non-retired older adults – whether they work for pay or not — cited at least one barrier to working. Many cited multiple barriers. The percentage reporting at least one barrier was very high – more than 80% — among those who aren’t working but aren’t retired.

Barriers included disability, chronic illness or poor health (29% of all non-retired older adults), lack of training, skills or experience (13%), limited transportation options (11%), caregiving for an adult (8%), caregiving for a child or grandchild (5%) or a prior conviction or legal action (3%).

The poll also asked all adults aged 50 and up who had worked in the past five years about their experiences related to work. Of this group, 26% thought their skills weren’t being fully utilized, 25% said the pay was too low to be worth their time, and 20% said their health insurance didn’t cover their needs. In addition, 13% felt their job was too physically demanding and 11% said they experienced age discrimination at work.

The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center.