Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

“Encore accounts” to finance individuals’ transition to their encore careers are getting increased attention from presidential candidates on the campaign trail.

To be fair, none of them are actually mentioning “encore careers” in their proposals, at least not yet. But the attention could spur support for incentives directly aimed at helping people prepare for work that matters in the second half of their lives.

As Jonathan Peterson of theLos Angeles Times reports, “Leading Democratic candidates are calling for savings programs — unrelated to Social Security — targeted to moderate-income households, greased with matching tax credits and powered through payroll deductions.” Republicans are talking about tax cuts and other economic policies to fuel savings, he writes.

The proposals are all fueled by recognition that most Americans cannot finance even 15 or 20, much less 30, years of retirement. Nearly half of all workers have less than $35,000 in savings, and nearly three-quarters have less than $100,000, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Clinton’s “American Retirement Accounts” plan calls for a 100% federal match on the first $1,000 saved by households earning up to $60,000 and a 50% match on that amount for those earning $60,000 to $100,000. Despite the name, the accounts Clinton is proposing could be used for higher education as well as for traditional retirement.

Obama would offer a 50% federal match on the first $1,000 of savings by households that earn less than $75,000, and he would require employers to sign up workers and offer payroll deductions.

Such accounts, of course, are inadequate to solving the “retirement” problem. But the level of savings could be a big help in helping individuals enter a new stage of work that provides both continued income and personal and social purpose.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel has floated the idea of 401L’s – L is for Learning – that are similar to the now-familiar 401K retirement accounts.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is pushing Lifelong Learning Accounts, or LiLAs, that are being tested in several cities.

IBM has established “learning accounts” into which will be workers can contribute up to $1,000 a year into the accounts; IBM will contribute 50 cents for every dollar put in by the employees.

Peterson reports, “Proposals to create workplace-based savings programs for those who have no pension coverage have captured some Republican support.”