R1G, some people perhaps don't want to do lesser jobs, if you have been a top salesman, executive, or engineer, and are made redundant at say 50, or earlier, then perhaps it is hard to find those jobs, they are far and few between, and companies that do hire, are likely to go for younger people, and the older you get the less likely you are to find anything in your field. If you have to work in B&Q or tesco to make ends meet than can be quite a downturn, in your earnings and self esteem.