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.
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.
SUGGESTED CITATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Labor force participation of seniors, 1948-2007 on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2008/jul/wk4/art02.htm (visited December 15, 2018).
OF INTEREST
Recent editions of Spotlight on Statistics
- Workers in Alternative Employment Arrangements
A look at independent contractors, on-call workers, temporary help agency workers, and workers provided by contract firms. - Labor force characteristics of people with a disability
Examines the labor force characteristics of people with a disability and compares them with the characteristics of people with no disability. - A Look at Contingent Workers
Examines people who do not expect their jobs to last or who report that their jobs are temporary. - Race, Economics, and Social Status
Examines Consumer Expenditure Survey data to explore social and economic factors by race and ethnicity.
