Labor force participation of seniors, 1948-2007
July 29, 2008
In recent years a larger share of people 65 and older is staying in or returning to the labor force.
[Chart data—TXT]
The labor force participation rate for older workers—the percentage of person 65 and older who are working or seeking employment—has been rising since the late 1990s. This is especially notable because the 65-and-over labor force participation rate had been at historic lows during the mid 1980s and early 1990s.
These data are from the Current Population Survey program. To learn more, see "Older Workers," BLS Spotlight on Statistics, July 2008.
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