In recent years, a larger share of people 65 and older is staying in or returning to the labor force. This is according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The labor force participation rate for older workers — the percentage of person 65 and older who are working or seeking employment — has been rising since the late 1990s. This is especially notable because the 65-and-over labor force participation rate had been at historic lows during the mid 1980s and early 1990s.
This data is from the Current Population Survey program. To learn more, see "Older Workers," BLS Spotlight on Statistics, July 2008.
