Workers over 50 tend to have less alcoholism and longer tenure on jobs. Older workers are much less likely than younger workers to leave the organization, which reduces recruitment and retraining costs. Employees in their late 50s and 60s are, by far, more conscientious and hard-working than younger workers. Because of their greater experience, older managers are more capable of evaluating available information when making decisions than are younger managers. Workers over 50 have lower absenteeism and higher work ethics than their younger counterparts.
Older workers demonstrate higher productivity and more patience.
The AARP sponsored a survey of 6,347 of their members about their experiences with a second career after 50. The percentages of workers who said they love their jobs rose with age. Most individuals who worked late in life made fairly radical changes in their work, moving into a different line of work than their usual occupation, or doing different tasks on a different schedule. Two thirds learned something new for their second career, such as learning to use a computer, taking formal training, qualifying for a new license, or learning another language. The majority of older workers work less than full time all year or on a contract or commission basis.