Jan 15, 2024 By Brad Hundt 4 min read

Next summer, the Rolling Stones are set to tour America again, fronted by Mick Jagger, who will be 81 in July.

During the same season, 81-year-old President Biden will more than likely be campaigning for a second term, as will 78-year-old former President Donald Trump.

There’s been no shortage of sound and fury over the fact that until 2029 the White House will probably be occupied by someone born in the 1940s. Both Biden and Trump are more than 40 years past the median age of Americans, which is 38. And the fact that the Stones are still packing stadiums is a source of both wonderment and humor – will the air be scented with arthritis cream rather than marijuana?

But for all the attention paid to aged politicians and geriatric rockers, perhaps a less appreciated fact is that the likes of Biden, Trump and Jagger are hardly alone in working well past the age when many Americans once settled into retirement.

The Pew Research Center reported last year that the number of Americans older than 65 who are still punching a clock, whether literally or metaphorically, has doubled since the late 1980s. According to the Quarterly Workforce Indicators provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area had 28,333 workers aged 65 to 99 in 1998. A quarter-century later, in 2023, that number stood at 82,298.

Why is this happening? It’s the result of some good and not-so-good societal trends.

On the plus side, Americans are largely living longer and healthier lives than they once did. The whole notion of hanging it up in your early 60s when you still could have 20 or 30 years of decent health in front of you is a daunting prospect for many people. With no job to report to or no children underfoot, how do you fill your days?

Many of those who want to continue toiling in some form of employment find the work to be stimulating and appreciate the social opportunities that come in the workplace. According to Christian Ola, an associate professor of finance at PennWest University’s California campus, technology has made many jobs “less taxing and stressful,”

He added, “There’s something that goes with age where we take a little more delight and pleasure in any job,” and feel less caught up in clawing up a career ladder.

“At 70-years-old, you don’t get too worked up anymore. … It is what it is,” Ola said.

Some have also decided to take a gradual approach to retirement – slowing down to a part-time job, or a less demanding job – before calling it a day.

Many experts have pointed out, however, that the cohort of folks working in their golden years is primarily divided between those who can afford to retire but want to keep working, and those who can’t afford to retire and have to keep working.

In 2022, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances, almost half of American households had not saved any money for retirement. And only 35% of those aged 50 to 54 had saved more than $100,000. Pensions, once a pillar of retirement for many older Americans, have now largely become a thing of the past. Only 15% of private employers offered a pension to employees in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ola also pointed out that the United States has many three-generation households. He said, “That might be a testament to why so many people are working. They feel like they have to contribute to the household.”

Given this reality, the Fayette Community Action Agency has created an advocacy program for older workers that will cover Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. The program will provide such services as employer visits, training, counseling for older workers, coaching sessions on finances, and using ergonomic and assistive devices.

The program will also provide mentorship opportunities for retired workers who want to offer guidance for younger workers.

“The workforce is aging across the country,” said Kevin VanVerth, project manager for Fayette County Community Action. “Employers in the local region struggle with filling open positions and retaining workers.”

Community Action is looking for participants for the program. Workers or employers can contact VanVerth at 724-430-6413 or send an email message to kvanverth@fccaa.org.