American Community Survey Briefs

U.S. Department of Commerce

Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

census.gov

Labor Force Participation and Work 

Status of People 65 Years and Older

INTRODUCTION

Some people of traditional working age (16 to 64 years 

old) dream of the day when they can retire and pursue other interests, while others may plan to continue 

working past traditional retirement age. Most assume 

they will be making this choice around the age of 65. 

Over the past 20 years, the labor force participation 

rate of people 65 years and older has increased, particularly during the past decade. As with all age groups, 

the increase in labor force participation of women has 

been a driving factor for this overall trend.1

The labor force participation rate increase for those 65 

years and older is due to a variety of reasons, including 

the need for continued participation based on financial 

responsibilities, as well as the ability to participate 

given longer life spans.2 According to U.S. Census 

Bureau projections, the 65 and older population will 

increase by over 67 percent between 2015 and 2040, 

representing 21.0 percent of the total population by 

2040.3 This report presents historical trends and current characteristics of the older workforce using decennial census and American Community Survey data.

1 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate for females 16 years and older increased from 33.9 percent 

in 1950 to 58.6 percent in 2010, a nearly 25.0 percentage point 

increase. The labor force participation rate for men 16 years and over 

declined between 1950 and 2010, from 86.4 percent to 71.2 percent. 

These estimates are from the Current Population Survey, which can be 

assessed on the Internet at <www.bls.gov/cps/>. 2 According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, of workers 

delaying retirement in 2011, 13.0 percent gave the reason of having 

“inadequate finances or can’t afford to retire” and 6.0 percent gave the 

reason of “needing to make up for losses in the stock market.” 

See <www.ebri.org/pdf/surveys/rcs/2012/EBRI_IB_03-2012_No369

_RCS.pdf>, (pp. 23–24) and <www.ebri.org/> for further information. 3 U.S. Census Bureau 2012 National Population Projections, 

Summary Table 2, which can be accessed at <www.census.gov

/population/projections/data/national/2012/summarytables.html>.

Labor Force Participation of the Population 65 

Years and Older: 1990–2010

In 1990, 12.1 percent of the population 65 years and 

older was in the labor force, compared with 75.6 

percent for 16- to 64-year-olds during that time. By 

2010, the labor force participation rate of those 65 

years and older had increased to 16.1 percent, a 4.0 

percentage point change. For 16- to 64-year-olds, the 

national labor force participation rate was 74.0 percent 

in 2010 (1.6 percentage points lower than in 1990). 

Within the 65 and over population, 65- to 69-year-olds 

saw the largest change, increasing from 21.8 percent 

in 1990 to 30.8 percent in 2010, a 9.0 percentage 

point increase, compared with a 5.0 percentage point 

Issued January 2013

ACSBR/11-09

By Braedyn Kromer and David Howard 

Labor force participation rate: The labor force 

participation rate represents the proportion of the 

population that is in the labor force. For example, if 

there are 100 people in the population 16 years and 

over, and 64 of them are in the labor force, then the 

labor force participation rate for the population 16 

years and over would be 64.0 percent.

Civilian labor force: Consists of people classified 

as employed or unemployed.

Labor force: All people classified in the civilian 

labor force plus members of the U.S. Armed Forces 

(people on active duty with the U.S. Army, Air Force, 

Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard).

Full-time, year-round: All people who usually 

worked 35 or more hours per week for 50 to 52 

weeks in the past 12 months.
2 U.S. Census Bureau

increase for 70- to 74-year-olds and 

a 1.0 percentage point increase for 

people 75 years and older.4

Men 65 years and older experienced a 3.2 percentage point 

increase in labor force participation 

between 1990 and 2010, increasing from 17.6 percent to 20.8 

percent. This compares with a 5.2 

percentage point decline in the 

labor force participation rate for 

men aged 16 to 64 during the same 

time period (83.4 percent to 78.2 

percent). The change was more 

dramatic for women 65 years and 

older, whose labor force participation rate rose from 8.4 percent 

in 1990 to 12.5 percent in 2010, 

a 4.1 percentage point increase. 

Women aged 16 to 64 experienced 

a 1.9 percentage point increase in 

the labor force participation rate 

between 1990 and 2010 (67.9 

percent to 69.8 percent). This pattern was true for all sub-age groups 

within the 65 and older population. 

For example, the labor force participation rate for women 65 to 69 

years old increased 9.5 percentage 

points between 1990 and 2010, 

compared with a 7.9 percentage 

point increase for men 65 to 69 

years old (Figures 1 and 2). 

Current Characteristics of the 

Older Workforce

In 2011, the national labor force 

participation rate for those 65 

years and older was 16.2 percent, compared with a labor force 

participation rate of 73.5 percent 

for 16- to 64-year-olds. Labor force 

participation rates for people 65 

years and over ranged from 22.3 

percent in Alaska to 12.5 percent 

in West Virginia. Twenty-one states 

and the District of Columbia had a 

labor force participation rate significantly higher than the national 

rate of 16.2 percent for people 

41990 Census figures were calculated 

using internal data.

Figure 1. 

Labor Force Participation Rate for Men 65 Years 

and Older: 1990, 2000, 2010

(In Percent)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census; 2010 American

Community Survey. 

18.4

27.9

35.8

16.6

19.0

20.9

8.0

9.3 8.6

30.2

17.6

20.8

2010

2000

1990

65+ 65–69 70–74 75+

Figure 2. 

Labor Force Participation Rate for Women 65 Years 

and Older: 1990, 2000, 2010

(In Percent)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census; 2010 American

Community Survey. 

9.7

16.9

26.4

8.4

10.5

13.5

2.9

4.2 3.9

19.9

8.4

12.5

2010

2000

1990

65+ 65–69 70–74 75+
U.S. Census Bureau 3

65 years and over (Figure 3). The 

labor force participation rate for 

men 65 years and older was 20.7 

percent in 2011, significantly 

higher than the rate for women 

65 years and older (12.7 percent 

in 2011) (Table 1). Alaska was the 

only state where the labor force 

participation rate for people 65 

years and over was not statistically 

different between men and women 

in 2011. Labor force participation rates may vary by state for a 

number of reasons, such as due 

to a particular state’s demographic 

characteristics, including the age 

distribution within the population 

65 years and older. In addition, 

attractiveness to retirees, cost of 

living, and the desire and ability 

of residents 65 years and over 

to participate in the labor force 

could also impact rates within a 

particular state.

Nationally, 44.3 percent of those 

65 years and older who worked in 

2011 worked full-time, year-round. 

For 16- to 64-year-olds, 62.3 percent worked full-time, year-round 

in 2011. The percentage of workers 

65 years and older who worked 

full-time, year-round was highest 

in the District of Columbia (62.2 

percent). Fourteen states and the 

District of Columbia had a higher 

proportion of full-time, year-round 

workers 65 years and older than 

the national rate. In 2011, 49.1 

percent of men 65 years and older 

worked full-time, year-round, compared with 38.2 percent of women 

aged 65 years and older.

SOURCE AND ACCURACY

The data presented in this report 

are based on the ACS sample 

interviewed in 2011. The estimates 

based on this sample approximate 

the actual values and represent the 

entire household and group quarters population. Sampling error is 

the difference between an estimate 

based on a sample and the corresponding value that would be 

obtained if the estimate were based 

on the entire population (as from a 

census). Measures of the sampling 

errors are provided in the form of 

margins of error for all estimates 

included in this report. All comparative statements in this report 

have undergone statistical testing, 

and comparisons are significant at 

the 90 percent level unless otherwise noted. In addition to sampling 

error, nonsampling error may be 

introduced during any of the operations used to collect and process 

survey data such as editing, reviewing, or keying data from questionnaires. For more information on 

sampling and estimation methods, 

confidentiality protection, and 

sampling and nonsampling errors, 

please see the 2011 ACS Accuracy 

of the Data document located at 

<www.census.gov/acs/www

/Downloads/data_documentation

/Accuracy/ACS_Accuracy_of

_Data_2011.pdf>.

What Is the American Community Survey?

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey designed 

to provide communities with reliable and timely demographic, social, 

economic, and housing data for the nation, states, congressional districts, counties, places, and other localities every year. It has an annual 

sample size of about 3.3 million addresses across the United States and 

Puerto Rico and includes both housing units and group quarters (e.g., 

nursing facilities and prisons). The ACS is conducted in every county 

throughout the nation, and every municipio in Puerto Rico, where it is 

called the Puerto Rico Community Survey. Beginning in 2006, ACS data 

for 2005 were released for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 

and greater. For information on the ACS sample design and other topics, 

visit <www.census.gov/acs/www>.
4 U.S. Census Bureau ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! TX CA MT AZ ID NV KS CO NM OR UT SD IL WY NE IA FL MN OK ND WI WA GA AL MO PA ARLA NC MS NY MIN I VA TN KY SC OH ME WV VT NH NJ MD MA CT DE RI DC AK PR HI Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey, 2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey. 0 500 Miles 0 100 Miles 0 100 Miles 0 50 Miles Statistical significance as compared to the U.S. rate by state Higher No difference Lower Labor Force Participation Rate of People 65 Years and Over for the United States and Puerto Rico: 2011 Figure 3. U.S. rate is 16.2 U.S. rate does not include data for Puerto Rico.
U.S. Census Bureau 5

Table 1.

Labor Force Characteristics of the Population 65 Years and Over: 2011—Con.

(For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www/)

State

Men Women Men Women Total

Labor 

force 

participation 

rate

Margin 

of 

error1

Labor 

force 

participation 

rate

Margin 

of 

error1

Full-time, 

yearround 

percentage of 

workers2

Margin 

of 

error1

Full-time, 

yearround 

percentage of 

workers2

Margin 

of 

error1

Mean 

age of 

population 65 

years 

and over

Margin 

of 

error1

 United States . . . . . 20.7 0.1 12.7 0.1 49.1 0.4 38.2 0.4 75.0 0.1

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.9 1.0 *11.2 0.8 *55.1 2.7 39.1 3.0 *74.5 0.1

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.5 3.0 *21.1 4.1 49.2 8.2 38.8 10.6 *73.2 0.1

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *16.5 0.9 *11.0 0.8 47.4 3.7 39.3 4.0 *74.5 0.1

Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.2 1.2 12.2 0.8 49.1 4.2 41.0 4.4 *74.7 0.1

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.0 0.4 12.6 0.3 *51.5 1.2 38.2 1.2 *75.1 0.1

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *23.3 1.2 *15.0 0.9 47.4 2.6 39.9 2.8 *74.5 0.1

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . *26.0 1.1 *16.1 0.8 46.8 2.6 38.2 3.0 *75.6 0.1

Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.6 2.4 13.6 1.8 49.6 6.9 35.8 8.3 *74.6 0.1

District of Columbia . . . . . . *28.1 3.0 *17.2 2.4 *61.8 7.9 *62.6 6.2 75.1 0.1

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.5 0.5 *10.8 0.3 *45.5 1.7 39.7 1.6 *75.2 0.1

Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 0.9 *11.2 0.5 *53.4 2.9 40.5 3.8 *74.0 0.1

Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *22.8 1.4 *16.1 1.7 *56.2 4.9 43.0 6.6 *75.4 0.1

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.0 1.7 12.2 1.7 *44.0 4.9 *29.1 6.0 *74.4 0.1

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.3 0.6 *13.3 0.5 48.1 1.5 37.6 2.1 *75.2 0.1

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.0 1.0 *11.8 0.7 *40.3 2.5 35.7 2.8 *75.1 0.1

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *23.1 1.1 13.4 0.8 *44.6 2.9 *30.6 3.1 *75.8 0.1

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *26.6 1.4 *14.5 0.9 *53.6 2.7 38.9 3.5 *75.5 0.1

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.4 1.1 *10.8 0.7 46.8 3.0 34.8 3.9 *74.5 0.1

Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.9 1.3 13.2 0.9 *55.7 3.4 *48.2 3.4 *74.6 0.1

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *22.4 1.5 12.7 1.2 *37.7 4.3 36.4 4.7 75.0 0.1

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *26.4 1.1 *16.3 0.9 *54.6 2.4 *42.7 3.0 *74.9 0.1

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . *24.7 1.1 *15.4 0.6 47.1 2.7 *33.9 2.0 *75.6 0.1

Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *15.8 0.6 *10.0 0.4 *39.5 2.1 *32.8 1.9 *75.1 0.1

Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.9 0.7 *13.6 0.6 *41.0 2.0 *30.5 2.5 *75.3 0.1

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . *19.1 1.4 *10.5 0.7 *53.7 4.4 *46.5 4.9 *74.6 0.1

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *19.0 0.7 12.6 0.7 48.0 2.2 *34.4 3.1 *75.1 0.1

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.1 2.1 *14.4 1.5 46.8 5.4 *32.8 5.3 74.9 0.1

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *28.1 1.9 *17.0 1.1 *55.0 3.2 38.0 4.1 *75.7 0.1

Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.4 1.6 *14.5 1.4 52.3 5.6 41.2 5.2 *73.9 0.1

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . 21.9 1.9 *16.2 1.5 47.3 4.0 *26.3 5.0 74.9 0.1

New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . *25.6 0.7 *14.8 0.6 50.9 2.0 39.9 1.8 *75.4 0.1

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 1.6 *14.6 1.4 48.1 4.6 38.3 5.7 *74.5 0.1

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *21.7 0.5 12.6 0.4 *51.2 1.5 *41.4 1.3 *75.4 0.1

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . 20.3 0.9 12.1 0.6 *45.8 2.4 *35.2 2.9 *74.5 0.1

North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . *26.2 2.1 *14.7 2.0 51.0 6.3 35.8 7.8 *76.3 0.1

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *18.8 0.6 *11.6 0.5 *43.5 1.8 *34.2 1.9 *75.2 0.1

Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.1 1.1 13.2 0.8 *55.4 3.4 *42.3 3.1 *74.7 0.1

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *17.6 1.1 12.3 0.8 47.1 3.2 *33.9 4.0 74.9 0.1

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . *19.8 0.6 12.3 0.4 *44.7 1.6 *35.2 1.6 *75.7 0.1

Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . 22.3 2.2 12.9 1.5 46.9 5.7 35.3 6.5 *75.9 0.1

South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . *19.2 1.2 *11.7 0.8 46.3 3.7 *34.2 3.4 *74.1 0.1

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . *27.4 2.4 *16.1 2.3 *56.3 5.7 37.5 6.5 *75.9 0.1

Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . *17.8 1.0 *11.6 0.7 48.6 2.6 36.3 3.1 *74.5 0.1

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *23.0 0.6 *13.4 0.4 *57.1 1.3 *45.2 1.9 *74.4 0.1

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.0 1.6 12.3 1.1 49.9 4.3 38.3 4.8 *74.7 0.1

See footnotes at end of table.
6 U.S. Census Bureau

Table 1.

Labor Force Characteristics of the Population 65 Years and Over: 2011—Con.

(For information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see www.census.gov/acs/www)

State

Men Women Men Women Total

Labor 

force 

participation 

rate

Margin 

of 

error1

Labor 

force 

participation 

rate

Margin 

of 

error1

Full-time, 

yearround 

percent 

of 

workers2

Margin 

of 

error1

Full-time, 

yearround 

percent 

of 

workers2

Margin 

of 

error1

Mean 

age of 

population 65 

years 

and over

Margin 

of 

error1

Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *24.4 2.0 *14.8 1.8 *38.8 5.0 33.7 6.3 *74.7 0.1

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *23.5 1.1 *14.3 0.7 *55.7 2.5 *42.6 2.7 *74.6 0.1

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . *19.3 0.9 *11.6 0.7 49.0 2.4 37.0 3.0 *74.7 0.1

West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . *14.2 1.3 *11.1 1.0 48.0 5.6 41.4 4.6 *74.7 0.1

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . *19.4 0.9 12.4 0.6 *41.2 2.3 *27.1 2.5 *75.4 0.1

Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *24.5 2.8 *16.6 2.5 42.0 7.4 *49.1 9.0 *74.2 0.1

Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . *9.3 1.0 *4.4 0.6 *57.6 4.9 *55.4 6.0 *74.4 0.1

*Statistically different from the 2011 U.S. figure at the 90 percent confidence interval, calculated using unrounded margins of error. 1

 Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger the margin of error 

in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. When added to and subtracted from the estimate, the margin of error forms the 90 percent 

confidence interval. 2

 Full-time, year-round workers include those who usually worked 35 hours or more per week for 50 to 52 weeks in the past 12 months. For this table, the term 

worker refers to anyone who worked in the past 12 months.

Note: For additional labor force data by state, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics at <www.bls.gov/lau/> and 

<www.bls.gov/lau/table14full11.pdf>. For additional full-time, year-round statistics, see the BLS’ Work Experience of the Population report at <www.bls.gov/news

.release/work.toc.htm>.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey and 2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey.