Older Workers on the Rise: Insights from Recent Census Data
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A recent analysis of 2023 census data highlights a significant trend in the U.S. labor market: an increasing number of older individuals, specifically those aged 65 and above, are remaining in the workforce. Vermont, Iowa, and Maryland lead the nation with the highest proportions of older workers, with 25.6%, 23.9%, and 23.4% respectively.
This trend is part of a broader national pattern where 18.7% of Americans aged 65 and older are still employed. Factors contributing to this include changes in Social Security and retirement plans, as well as improvements in healthcare that extend both life expectancy and working years. Additionally, older workers today are generally more educated, work longer hours, and have access to more job-related benefits than previous generations.
Despite a slight decrease in the number of older workers since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall trend has been an increase in their workforce participation since the late 1980s.
For those interested in exploring this topic further, examining the geographic distribution of older workers across American cities can provide additional insights into how this demographic shift is playing out across different regions. [This interactive map] on Axios can help you see the numbers in your own state, or any state you are interested in.
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- Posted by: Kevin Mauro
- Posted in: Older Workers