The 10 Most Common Jobs for Older Workers
The stereotype of the senior citizen working at Borders and Home Depot appears to be true. Retail jobs are the most common occupation for workers 65 or older, according to an Urban Institute analysis to be released later this month.
Almost 7 percent of people still working past age 65 are employed as retail sales persons or their supervisors, the Urban Institute calculated. Among the workforce as a whole, only about 5 percent of people work in retail.
"It's still the case that the most common occupation is somewhat mundane like cashiers, janitors, and secretaries," says Richard Johnson, a principal research associate at the Urban Institute and author of the study. "It's still a minority of the jobs that are exciting new careers."
Here are the jobs most common among seniors, according to the study.
| Occupation | Total 65-and-Older Workers | Share of Workers 65 and Older in the Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Retail salesperson | 181,559 | 3.5% |
| 2. | Farmers and ranchers | 177,383 | 3.4 |
| 3. | First-line supervisors/managers of retail salespeople | 164,507 | 3.2 |
| 4. | Janitors and building cleaners | 146,364 | 2.8 |
| 5. | Driver/sales workers and truck drivers | 139,902 | 2.7 |
| 6. | Secretaries and administrative assistants | 139,829 | 2.7 |
| 7. | Cashiers | 110,508 | 2.1 |
| 8. | Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 108,798 | 2.1 |
| 9. | Real estate brokers and sales agents | 92,465 | 1.8 |
| 10. | Chief executives | 89,720 | 1.7 |
Source: Urban Institute calculations, 2008
| Occupation | Share of Workers in Occupation Who Are 65 and Older | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Funeral service workers | 31.4% |
| 2. | Crossing guards | 27.7 |
| 3. | Farmers and ranchers | 25.7 |
| 4. | Models, demonstrators, and product promoters | 23.1 |
| 5. | Funeral directors | 16.3 |
| 6. | Tax preparers | 14.3 |
| 7. | Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers | 13.2 |
| 8. | Barbers | 13.0 |
| 9. | Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners | 11.6 |
| 10. | Clergy | 11.4 |
Source: Urban Institute calculations, 2008
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Reader Comments
Older Worker Jobs
I'm not 65, but only 52. I worked for a local government agency, and was able to receive most of my pension (a little over $2800/month) after having worked 28 years. Also, I saved over $300,000 in various retirement accounts outside of my pension.
I certainly don't "crave" an exciting new career, but just need some extra spending money to pay for "extras," such as travel expenses, saving for my next car, and to continue annual $6000 contributions to my Roth IRA. Therefore, a low-wage retail sales job, or working as a security guard, would probably suit me fine, since I don’t require anything which needs a great deal of commitment.
Older Workers
As a job search coach for people 55 and older, I've found that many employers have little desire to employ "mature workers" in meaningful positions. Often, my clients are still healthy, quite sharp, and are loving their longevity. However, few anticipated how much it would cost to merely make ends meet.
Regardless of whether you choose to work, or pursue it by necessity, it is increasingly difficult for many people (even for those in their 50s who should be in the prime of their careers) to secure good wages.
When will employers realize that hiring an older worker is good business sense rather than a benevolent gesture? They aren't looking to climb the next rung on the corporate ladder, they have exceptional live experience, and are instilled with strong work ethics.
50 year old Graphic Designer
I continue to struggle with technology changes in my business. I was able to keep up until 2005 when I lost my Agency job to a 21-year old college drop out.
I am still looking for work, and studying online, but I don't know if it's worth it.
After viewing this article, at least I know what to apply for when I give up on my career.
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