Traditionally, people tend to view their golden years as a time to slow down and to relax. For many people, this is the time where they are retired and it can be a chance to pick up new hobbies, to socialize and to simply enjoy life.
Yet, this type of lifestyle isn’t for everyone.
Instead, there is a growing trend of people older than 65 re-entering the workplace.
In some cases, this is a purely financial decision. Seniors often find that the income that they are getting simply isn’t enough to support them, especially if they are relying solely on Social Security, or if they retired young.
Likewise, people may choose to stay in the workplace or get another job because they are concerned that they are going to outlive the money that they have available. This is a viable concern, especially as people can easily live into their 80s and 90s.
But, finances aren’t the only reason that there are so many seniors in the labor force.
For many, working is a stimulating process, helping to keep their minds occupied, although the extra money certainly doesn’t hurt either. In fact, some feel that they would simply be too bored if they were to stop working altogether.
Likewise, this pattern means that some seniors are choosing to go back into the labor force, as they found retirement simply isn’t what they are looking for.
At the same time, having a job can allow seniors to access a better lifestyle than they could otherwise. For example, an article at Bloomberg highlighted the case of a 73-year-old who works as a Direct of Human Resources and spends most of her income on things like going to the theater and travelling.
This trend isn’t as surprising as it might seem.
Modern technology and employment patterns means that there are many jobs out there that are suitable for seniors.
In many cases, seniors are simply able to continue to work at their same roles, especially if they were in positions like management, which don’t tend to be too intensive physically. Seniors might also keep the same general job but cut down their hours or move to a position of less stress and responsibility.
There are also less traditional jobs out there. For example, some seniors have got involved in Uber driving, partly for the social nature of the work and the flexible hours. There are other conventionalize options out there too, especially for seniors that have a skill set that is in demand.
In some cases, it can be difficult for seniors to get jobs but this isn’t always the case. Often, seniors may have an advantage, because they have extensive experience and may even have a reputation in a given industry.
Nevertheless, finding a job can take time, especially as ageism is still an issue in many workplaces.
Regardless, the growing representation of seniors in the labor force shows that growing older does not mean that one necessarily has to slow down. Instead, continuing to work is a viable option and one that can help keep people engaged and can support the lifestyle that people want to have.
Leave a Reply