Nearly a third of 65- to 74-year-olds were in the labor force in 2017, compared to a quarter of that age group in 2005. About 8 percent of residents 75 and up were working or looking for work in 2017 as well.
The Census can only tell us who’s working, not why they might be. But Carl Van Horn, a professor of public policy at Rutgers University, believes the answer is twofold: Lots of time, and so little money.
“People are living longer lives, and they’re worried they’re not going to have enough (savings) to sustain them,” Van Horn said.