One in five working New Yorkers is now 55 years or older, according to the latest figures from the US Census Bureau, a sign of both the aging of the baby boom generation and of older workers holding on to jobs longer in the face of savings diminished by the recession.
Older workers are becoming larger part of the workforce, increasing by 16% since 2007, according to the Census. States across the country, including neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut have experienced similar trends as older workers become more educated, stay healthier and work later into life.
The numbers are expected to continue to go up, particularly as more boomers hit their 60s, say experts.
Baby boomers – generally defined as those who were born between 1946 and 1964 – now make up a quarter of the population, both nationwide and in New York. By 2030, nearly one in four new Yorkers will be 60 years old or older, according to the New York State Office for the Aging.