Study: 19.8% of Retirement-Age Residents in New York State are Still Working
U.S. Money Reserve—a leading distributor of government-issued gold, silver, platinum, and palladium—has just released a new study about the U.S. locations that have the most people working past retirement age. I thought you’d be interested to see how New York State ranked in the analysis.
A growing number of individuals are extending their careers well beyond the traditional retirement age. After reaching a low of 10.8% in 1985, the labor force participation rate among individuals aged 65 and older has steadily climbed, reaching 19.2% in 2023. This trend is influenced by several factors, including economic necessity, personal fulfillment, and governmental policies that encourage extended participation in the workforce.
The labor force participation rate of individuals aged 65 and older varies significantly across the country, however. Researchers ranked locations by the share of the 65-and-older population in the labor force, taking into account people who were either employed, or unemployed but actively looking for work.
These are the main takeaways from the report, highlighting some some key stats for New York State:
- Among the occupations with the highest overall numbers of over-65 workers, roles such as delivery drivers and route salespersons (324,000 workers), retail salespersons (304,000), and janitors and building cleaners (256,000) are prominent.
- In terms of the highest share of workers aged 65 and older, funeral and related workers lead with 42.2%. Similarly, school bus monitors (31.6%), crossing guards and flaggers (30.8%), and school bus drivers (29.7%) also have high concentrations of older workers.
- In New York State, residents aged 65 or older make up 18.1% of the total population.
- The median income for full-time workers over 65 in New York State is $68,000 annually.
- Overall, 19.8% of the over-65 population in New York State is still in the labor force.