Find a Job You Really Want In
Have you considered how you’ll fill your days once you hit retirement age? Perhaps lounging in bed, hitting the golf course, or enjoying an early dinner at 4:30 PM? However, the reality might look quite different from those classic stereotypes.
Recent trends indicate you’re more likely to rise early and take on a part-time role at the local pro shop or diner than to fully retire when you reach retirement age.
For context, while the overall labor force is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.5% over the next decade—slower than in previous decades—it’s noteworthy that:
The labor force is aging, with the population aged 55 and older projected to grow at an annual rate of 1.8%, significantly exceeding the overall labor force growth rate.
This demographic shift means that the share of older individuals in the workforce is expected to rise from 21.7% in 2014 to nearly 25% by 2026.
To shed light on how you might spend your bronze golden years, we explored the types of jobs predominantly held by older adults, along with those that older generations are most represented in.
The Ten Jobs Commonly Held by Older Americans
| Jobs | 65+ | 50-64 | 35-49 | 20-34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | 49% | 25% | 14% | 12% |
| Embalmers and Funeral Attendants | 44% | 28% | 16% | 11% |
| Crossing Guards | 39% | 32% | 17% | 12% |
| Models, Demonstrators, and Product Promoters | 32% | 21% | 15% | 32% |
| Tax Preparers | 32% | 33% | 21% | 14% |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 27% | 29% | 21% | 24% |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 27% | 20% | 8% | 45% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 27% | 40% | 20% | 13% |
| Bus Drivers | 27% | 44% | 22% | 7% |
| Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 27% | 31% | 23% | 20% |
But First, What Exactly is Retirement Age?
When examining these trends, it’s essential to establish definitions, such as what constitutes retirement age. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) opens its membership to individuals as young as fifty. However, this has not been a realistic retirement age for many years, even though various pensions tend to activate after twenty years of service.
As of now, Social Security’s full retirement age (FRA) can extend to sixty-seven, meaning early access incurs penalties, despite the fact that two-thirds of the population exits full-time work by that age.
For our analysis, we adopt sixty-five as a common retirement age, as it aligns with Medicare eligibility, allowing those who retire at this age to avoid burdensome insurance costs.
Jobs Older Adults Hold More Frequently
The jobs listed above may or may not surprise you, except perhaps for embalmers. Many of these roles are less physically demanding and often benefit from extensive experience, with minimal ongoing education requirements or need to keep pace with rapidly changing trends.
Here’s an age distribution of the jobs with the highest percentages of older workers.
It’s essential to note that these positions with the highest percentage of workers over sixty-five do not constitute a majority of any job category, and in only four cases do they represent a plurality.
Jobs with the Most Elderly Workers
In examining where older Americans are employed, there is a noticeable trend toward roles that demand less physical exertion and often require higher education. Data from the Census Bureau indicates that those who are employed tend to have higher educational attainments and wealth concentrations.
In addition to identifying jobs with the highest percentage of older workers, we also compiled a list of roles with the largest absolute number of older employees, using Census data for occupations with at least twenty instances. Here’s another top ten list for you!
Jobs with the Most Elderly Workers
| Job Description | Average Age | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary, Middle, and High School Teachers | 70 | 5,602 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | 71 | 2,898 |
| Miscellaneous Managers, Including Funeral Service | 71 | 2,130 |
| Lawyers, Judges, and Magistrates | 71 | 1,808 |
| Chief Executives and Legislators | 71 | 1,667 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 71 | 1,535 |
| Registered Nurses | 70 | 1,406 |
| Physicians and Surgeons | 72 | 1,380 |
| Retail Salespersons | 71 | 1,107 |
| Management Analysts | 71 | 1,073 |
Conversely, let’s explore the jobs with the fewest older workers.
Jobs with the Fewest Elderly Workers
| Job Description | Average Age | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 71 | 21 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | 71 | 21 |
| Ship and Boat Captains and Operators | 72 | 22 |
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners, All Other | 71 | 22 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | 69 | 22 |
| Industrial and Refractory Machinery Mechanics | 69 | 22 |
| Baggage Porters, Bellhops, and Concierges | 73 | 23 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors | 74 | 24 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related | 72 | 24 |
| Nonfarm Animal Caretakers | 72 | 24 |
The Takeaway
In the early 1990s, nearly 60% of men aged 62-74 with doctoral and professional degrees remained in the workforce. In contrast, only 20% of male high school dropouts in the same age bracket were still employed. Although the participation rate gap was smaller for women, it was still significant.
Many of these professional roles offer greater flexibility in hours and allow for gradual reductions in workload. The stark difference in workforce participation may be attributed to the physical toll that blue-collar jobs can take, often leading workers to retire earlier than desired. Research indicates that “negative health shocks” are a primary reason preventing older adults from staying in the workforce.
On a positive note, older workers typically enjoy higher pay rates. Studies show that individuals aged 60 to 74 earn more per hour on average than those aged 25 to 59. Given the structured pay increases associated with many common jobs for older adults, this trend is understandable.
Should you be worried? Yes, if you’re not in a high-income profession.
With increasing life expectancy, many workers may find themselves returning to low-skilled jobs that don’t leverage their pre-retirement experience, while those who remain employed are compensated at higher rates. This situation may lead to a reality where more Americans, particularly younger generations, may find it necessary to work indefinitely or to start saving aggressively for retirement.
| Jobs With Census Label | 65+ | 50-64 | 35-49 | 20-34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRN-Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | 49% | 25% | 14% | 12% |
| PRS-Embalmers and Funeral Attendants | 44% | 28% | 16% | 11% |
| PRT-Crossing Guards | 39% | 32% | 17% | 12% |
| SAL-Models, Demonstrators, and Product Promoters | 32% | 21% | 15% | 32% |
| FIN-Tax Preparers | 32% | 33% | 21% | 14% |
| CMS-Religious Workers, All Other | 27% | 29% | 21% | 24% |
| PRS-Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | 27% | 20% | 8% | 45% |
| MGR-Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 27% | 40% | 20% | 13% |
| TRN-Bus Drivers | 27% | 44% | 22% | 7% |
| OFF-Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 27% | 31% | 23% | 20% |
| CMS-Clergy | 26% | 37% | 23% | 15% |
| PRD-Tailors, Dressmakers, and Sewers | 25% | 43% | 21% | 12% |
| PRS-Barbers | 25% | 20% | 30% | 25% |
| SCI-Psychologists | 24% | 34% | 26% | 16% |
| PRS-Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors | 24% | 33% | 26% | 17% |
| PRD-Etchers and Engravers | 24% | 30% | 28% | 18% |
| SAL-Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents | 24% | 39% | 25% | 12% |
| OFF-Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 24% | 35% | 19% | 23% |
| OFF-Information and Record Clerks, All Other | 23% | 34% | 22% | 21% |
| PRS-Tour and Travel Guides | 23% | 21% | 14% | 42% |
| SAL-Travel Agents | 23% | 38% | 28% | 11% |
| OFF-Library Assistants, Clerical | 22% | 30% | 17% | 31% |
| FIN-Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate | 22% | 43% | 26% | 10% |
| OFF-Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | 21% | 31% | 21% | 26% |
| ENT-Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers | 21% | 30% | 23% | 25% |
| CMS-Directors of Religious Activities and Education | 21% | 32% | 28% | 19% |
| MGR-Chief Executives and Legislators | 21% | 45% | 29% | 6% |
| TRN-Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs | 20% | 38% | 27% | 15% |
| CON-Construction and Building Inspectors | 20% | 46% | 22% | 12% |
| RPR-Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | 20% | 40% | 20% | 20% |
| PRS-Miscellaneous Entertainment Attendants and Related | 20% | 18% | 12% | 50% |
| MED-Dentists | 19% | 37% | 31% | 13% |
| OFF-Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | 19% | 42% | 26% | 13% |
| PRD-Tool and Die Makers | 19% | 49% | 23% | 9% |
| BUS-Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products | 19% | 28% | 27% | 27% |
| EDU-Library Technicians | 19% | 32% | 15% | 34% |
| PRD-Shoe and Leather Workers | 19% | 40% | 27% | 14% |
| MGR-Property, Real Estate, and Community Association | 19% | 38% | 27% | 16% |
| EDU-Librarians | 19% | 42% | 23% | 16% |
| PRT-Fire Inspectors | 18% | 42% | 27% | 13% |
| SAL-Sales and Related Workers, All Other | 18% | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| EDU-Postsecondary Teachers | 18% | 29% | 25% | 29% |
| ENT-Writers and Authors | 18% | 31% | 28% | 23% |
| SCI-Astronomers and Physicists | 18% | 31% | 28% | 22% |
| HLS-Medical Transcriptionists | 18% | 49% | 21% | 12% |
| OFF-Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 18% | 41% | 26% | 15% |
| OFF-Couriers and Messengers | 18% | 33% | 27% | 22% |
| SAL-Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors | 17% | 29% | 27% | 26% |
| EDU-Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians | 17% | 31% | 23% | 29% |
| FIN-Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 17% | 45% | 25% | 13% |
Author
David Luther was the Content Marketing Editor for the Zippia Advice blog. He developed partnerships with external reporting agencies in addition to generating original research and reporting for the Zippia Career Advice blog. David obtained his BA from UNC Chapel Hill.
