Jul 12, 2024 - News
California's older workers
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California trails the national average slightly when it comes to its share of employed seniors, according to preliminary 2023 census data.
Why it matters: The 2024 presidential campaign between President Biden and former President Trump is sparking a fresh conversation about age, ability and mental acuity.
Zoom in: In California, 17.9% of adults 65 and older are still working, compared with the national average of 18.7%, census data shows.
- The overall 65-plus population has seen a 34% increase since 2010, per the state's Employment Development Department (EDD).
- Meanwhile, about 21% of San Francisco workers are 55 and older, the EDD notes.
State of play: It's not uncommon these days for older Americans to stay in the workforce.
- Today's older workers are better educated, working more hours, and more likely to be receiving employer benefits, compared with past decades, per a 2023 Pew Research Center report.
- In fact, the 75-and-older cohort is the fastest-growing age group in the workforce.
The big picture: The share of older adults in the workforce has been generally rising since the late 1980s.