US workforce 23% aged 55 or older

Workers age 55 and older now account for 23.2% of the U.S. workforce, according to a June 2 HR Executive report citing a MyPerfectResume analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey data. The report said workers 55 and older have grown 17.3% since 2014, compared with 11.7% overall, while workers 65 and older increased by more than 40% over the past decade. (hrexecutive.com) (gao.gov) The Government Accountability Office said on March 3 that the share of workers 55 and older in the U.S. workforce rose from 15% to 23% over the last 20 years. GAO said older Americans are working later in life for a mix of reasons, including financial need, delayed retirement, health insurance concerns and a desire for social engagement. (info.argentum.org) ### Where does the 23% figure come from? HR Executive said the 23.2% figure comes from MyPerfectResume’s Workforce Aging Report, which used Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey data. The report described the shift as a labor-market change affecting retirement patterns, labor supply and workforce stability across industries. (hrexecutive.com) GAO separately used the same broad age threshold in its March review, saying workers 55 and older now represent 23% of the workforce. That federal review gives the industry figure a government benchmark, even though the exact decimal differs. (gao.gov) ### Why are more older Americans staying in or returning to work? GAO said older workers cited several reasons for staying employed or seeking work later in life: saving more for retirement, keeping health insurance, meeting mortgage or family expenses, and maintaining purpose and community connection. The agency also said many older job seekers prefer roles with medical benefits, flexible work arrangements and less physical strain. (hrexecutive.com) AARP said on February 5 that 7% of retirees had “unretired,” or reentered the labor force, in the prior six months, based on a survey of adults age 50 and older. (gao.gov) AARP said 48% of those retirees named making money as the main reason for returning to work. ### What are employers worried about? MyPerfectResume career expert Jasmine Escalera said in the HR Executive report that “workforce aging is no longer a future issue” and that employers face pressure on succession, retention and knowledge transfer. The report said some occupations already have 30% to 50% of workers nearing retirement age. (gao.gov) SHRM said workers 65 and older are now the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. workforce and called it essential for employers to understand that talent pool. Its research said older workers often bring experience, reliability and institutional knowledge, while also facing stigma, discrimination and barriers to skills advancement. (aarp.org) ### What changes are employers and industry groups pushing? SHRM said employers should use age-inclusive hiring, mentorship, flexible work policies and skills development to better engage older workers. Its foundation said older workers are twice as likely to stay in their roles long term as other generations, a point it links to lower turnover costs. (hrexecutive.com) Argentum and Activated Insights said in their 2026 Career Perceptions Report that workers in senior living continue to prioritize fair pay, supportive supervisors, flexible schedules and meaningful work. McKnight’s Senior Living, citing the report, said those themes were largely unchanged from a similar study a decade earlier. (shrm.org) ### Where does this show up first? Senior living is one of the sectors already documenting the staffing strain. Argentum’s 2026 report said it surveyed workers across senior living communities, including direct care, culinary, operations, administrative and corporate roles, to identify what keeps people in jobs and what would make the field more sustainable. (shrm.org) SHRM said as of August 2025, about 11.87 million people age 65 and older were employed across industries in the United States. The organization said that number was more than double the level 30 years earlier. (info.argentum.org) June 2026 reporting from HR Executive, March 2026 analysis from GAO, and Argentum’s 2026 Career Perceptions Report are the current named reference points employers are using to track the aging-workforce shift and recruitment response. (hrexecutive.com) (shrm.org) (info.argentum.org)