Americans are working past 75 at an increasing rate. As the oldest baby boomers approach their 80s, improved healthcare has enabled older adults to extend their working lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the share of people over 75 who are still working is expanding rapidly, from 5% in 2002 to 8% in 2022. By 2032, the Labor Department expects that 1 in 10 people over 75 will continue to work.
One such example is Jayne Burns, who turned 101 in July, and has been working part-time as a fabric cutter at Joann Fabric and Crafts store in Mason, Ohio for 26 years. Despite “unretiring” a few times after her initially retiring from her career as a bookkeeper, Burns enjoys her work and plans to continue working for as long as she is able.
Melba Mebane, 91, recently retired from Dillard’s department store in Texas where she worked for 74 years. She attributes her ability to work until her 90s to the importance of investing in relationships at work.
Bob Rohloff, at 91, is still working as a barber. He tried to retire but found himself “unretiring” a few months later because he missed the camaraderie and conversation of the barbershop. In June, Rohloff and another local barber, Mark Karweick, opened Bob’s Old Fashioned Barbershop in Wisconsin.
The experiences of these individuals exemplify the changing nature of retirement as more people are choosing to stay in the workforce past traditional retirement age. The adaptability and resilience of these workers demonstrate the changing landscape of retirement and continued labor force participation for older adults.