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States with the most adults of retirement age still working
Stacker used 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau to find what share of each state's 65-and-over set still has a job.
Posted
Jill Jaracz
Aruta Images // Shutterstock
For many Americans, the typical life plan has long been school, work, retirement at 65, and living comfortably. But not as many people are traveling that path anymore.
Many simply don't want to retire because they enjoy what they do and don't want to slow down. Some find that retirement doesn't suit them and return to work to add meaning to their lives.
Others work because they can't afford retirement. According to the Economic Policy Institute, roughly one-third of workers aged 55 to 64 don't have access to a retirement savings plan. Those who rely solely on Social Security benefits may find they don't cover all of their living expenses. Major unplanned expenses like medical bills can also keep people in the workforce.
Stacker used 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau to find what share of each state's retirement-age population, those 65 and older, still participate in the labor force. Labor force statistics are calculated based on the civilian noninstitutional population, meaning those adults who are not incarcerated or in long-term medical facilities. It's helpful to note that age 65 is the typical age for retirement, as it's the age to qualify for Medicare.
Continue reading to find out whether your state has the most adults of retirement age still at work.
- Labor force participation among ages 65+: 26.7% (Estimated 42,000)
- Population ages 65+: 17.6% (157,883 people)
Note: Labor force participation data for South Dakota seniors was not available from BLS, so Stacker used data from a South Dakota Department of Labor report. Stacker estimated the state's 65+ labor force based on available Census Bureau data. Since the data comes from two sources, there may be some discrepancies in actual values and comparisons.
