Americans 65 and Older Quadruple Workforce Share to 19% as Trump Turns 80
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 13
Americans 65 and Older Quadruple Workforce Share to 19% as Trump Turns 80
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 13
Summary
About 19% of Americans 65 and older now hold jobs, roughly quadruple the share in the mid-1980s, putting Trump’s 80th birthday in a broader trend of later-life work.
Several forces are driving that shift: longer lifespans, higher living costs and a search for purpose or social contact. An Indeed Flex survey found nearly 30% of retirees are considering work, with more than 60% citing living costs.
Octogenarians remain visible in elite roles as well as ordinary jobs: 24 members of Congress are over 80 this year, while examples in the report include a 95-year-old doctor who just retired and a 93-year-old lawyer still in court.
The trend also sharpens scrutiny of age-related limits. Biden left the 2024 race after concerns about cognitive decline, while Trump’s health has drawn questions that his doctor answered by declaring him in excellent health after a recent exam.
Experts say late-life work can support purpose and engagement, but chronic stress and poor sleep can accelerate ageing, making income, healthcare access, rest and exercise key factors in whether working into one’s 80s is sustainable.