Typically, seniors envision their retirement as a time in their life when they stop working entirely and rely solely on government benefits and retirement funds, but that is changing. Today, senior employment is becoming an emerging trend. As of 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 40% percent of people ages 55 and older were seeking employment. The rates are expected to increase, especially for the 65 to 74 year old age groups. The verdict: senior retirement is starting to entail senior employment.
There is no particular reason to explain this trend. Reasons for seniors seeking employment after retirement tend to vary due to different circumstances. Seniors may be bored. They may be continuing to work because they have a genuine passion for their job. They also may be trying to bridge the gap between the living costs of their retirement and Social Security benefits. Nonetheless, the trend is increasing, and employers are noticing the value of senior employees. The top three perceptions cited by more than 700 employers in a 2014 survey (cited in an AARP report) were that seniors are: valuable resources for training and mentoring; important sources of institutional knowledge; and that they have more knowledge, wisdom, and life experience.
Seniors who have the desire to continue employment during their golden years should first consider how many hours they want to work. If there is a desire to enjoy retirement, but there exists a need for additional income, do consider part-time employment! Moreover, if a senior has held a job for a long time and is looking for a change in environment, this would be a great opportunity to pursue a passion! Surprisingly, there are a lot of options for senior employment, but it comes down to a senior’s preferences. Laura Slauson at greatseniorliving.com wrote a great article that can help seniors narrow down jobs that best fit their wants and needs.
There are also job search engines that cater to seniors specifically. Senior Job Bank and Workforce50 are respected websites that are particularly useful for locating jobs for seniors in their respective areas. Both include sections where employers post jobs catered to seniors. MySkills myFuture is another website that does a great job of creating a job profile for seniors in order to match them to an appropriate job opportunity.
Senior employment is still a thing. Because of this, employers and companies are accommodating and creating opportunities for seniors to work. This is a great option for seniors who want it, even if they do want to enjoy their golden age!
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By: Jonathan Reza
Office Support Specialist at WellPath Partners
B.S. in Philosophy at University of Redlands
M.A. candidate in Philosophy at California State University, Long Beach
