Women also experience a 'happiness bounce' towards the end of their working lives but it is much smaller than men's.
Researchers at the University of Portsmouth studied 5,000 public sector workers as part of a study with spin-out company Quality Of Working Life Ltd.
Their results show that employees aged over 60 have a significantly higher quality of working life than their middle-aged colleagues and this pre-retirement 'bounce' is more pronounced in men.
The research also shows that quality of working life tends to be high in young workers but those aged 25-59 have the lowest quality of working life, as measured by the Work-Related Quality of Life scale.
Dr Darren Van Laar, of the university's psychology department, said: "Previous research has shown that women are generally happier than men at work. However, this study shows that as we get older the difference in happiness narrows and the happiness factor of men and women completely reverses at around age 60.
"At this age, men, with several years of working life still to go, become much happier at work than women for the first time.
"Men might be happier as they approach retirement because they tend to have jobs that offer more flexibility and they are able to wind down more and reduce their stress. Also, men may typically have the prospect of a much higher pension, which also provides more flexibility and options.
"The differences between men and women might also have something to do with gender differences in attitudes towards work and retirement. Men may look forward to retirement much more and see it as an opportunity to stop working and spend more time doing the things they like doing.
"Women on the other hand may value work for the social opportunities and networks it provides rather than simply as a means of earning money. The prospect of more leisure time may not seem nearly as attractive because they may see themselves as 'still working' but at home and in a different way. And the prospect of more time at home with their husbands may not be a cause of joy and happiness."
Dr Van Laar said: "While we are only now beginning to identify the factors that contribute to quality of working life, this research underlines the potential benefits from taking action to improve the work environment and experience for all age groups.
"This becomes more than of academic interest when the trends are analysed more closely in the light of the planned increases in retirement ages."
Quality of Working Life Ltd will now work with employers to find out why men see work in a more positive light after the age of 60 and to see if those factors can be extended to help women too.
