Older Adults In The Workforce

Maybe you were a nurse but missed interacting with others when you hung up your scrubs for good. Or, you found that living expenses in retirement are higher than you expected. Older adults are continuing to work past retirement age for a variety of reasons, and many are finding the work to be deeply fulfilling.

According to the Pew Research Center, the older workforce has nearly quadrupled in size since the mid-1980s. In fact, workers ages 75 and older are the fastest growing demographic in the workplace. Nearly one in five people 60 and older are opting out of retirement.

By choice or by necessity, older adults are playing a larger role in the workforce and helping to shape a more gradual retirement process. For some, continuing to work provides financial benefits, especially given changes to Social Security.

But there are other benefits to working past retirement age for those who are healthy enough to do so. For many, the added physical motion is good for the body. Work-related tasks can stimulate the brain. Even more important, however, is the impact working has on maintaining social connectedness and sense of purpose. Participating in the workforce can lead to valuable intergenerational bonding and provide opportunities to mentor employees in earlier stages of their careers.

Many older adults are seeking out “bridge jobs,” part-time gigs, or even roles in different industries as a way of transitioning to full retirement.

AARP developed a list of the top 25 best part-time jobs for older adults. They started by identifying the most common part-time jobs held by adults 55 and over, then evaluated them based on factors such as job satisfaction and compensation. Among them are bookkeeper, school bus driver, office manager, administrative assistant, nanny, home health aide, security guard, customer service rep, and pharmacy tech.

If you’re interested in an encore career, need extra cash or just want to work part-time to fend off boredom, check out AARP’s full list for inspiration: aarp.org/work/job-search/ part-time-jobs-for-retirees.