New Data Confirms Americans Working Through Retirement

According to an updated CRS summary of older workers’ employment trends, 52% of men aged 62 to 64 were employed in March 2008, compared to 43% in 1995 and 42% in 1990. Of men aged 65 to 69, 33% were employed in March 2008, compared to 27% in 1995 and 26% in 1990.

The CRS report said among women 62 to 64 years old, 41% were working in March 2008, compared with 32% in 1995 and 28% in 1990, where among women 65 to 69 years old, 27% were working in March 2008, compared with 17% in 1995 and 1990.

Not only are more elderly Americans working, more have full-time jobs, according to the CRS report. In March 2008, 82% of employed men aged 62 to 64 were working full time, compared with 77% in 1995 and 1990.

Seventy-two percent of men aged 65 to 69 who were working in March 2008 were employed full-time, compared to 57% in 1995 and 56% in 1990. Among working women aged 62 to 64, 65% worked full time in March 2008, compared with 60% in both 1995 and 1990, where among working women aged 65 to 69, 55% were employed full-time in March 2008, compared to 43% in 1995 and 44% in 1990.

The Census Bureau data also confirmed the notion of a “phased retirement” where workers go to part-time jobs instead of stopping work altogether. Some 37% of men and 35% of women aged 55 to 64 who received income from a pension in 2007 were employed in March 2008, according to the CRS report.

The Pension Protection Act allows pension plans to begin paying benefits to workers who have not yet separated from their employers at the earlier age of 62, or the pension plan’s normal retirement age, which, in most plans, is 65.