In 2005, there were 34.8 million adults aged 65
and older in the United States, representing
12 percent of the total population. According to
the U.S. Census Bureau, the older population is
expected to grow to 72 million by 2030,
representing approximately 20 percent of the
population, due to the aging of the baby boom
generation. In 2005, older women composed
6.9 percent of the total population while men
composed 5.2 percent. Older women represented
a larger proportion of the elderly population than
men within every age group.
Employment plays a significant role in the lives
of many older Americans. In 2006, more than
2.3 million women aged 65 years or older were
working, accounting for 11.4 percent of women
in this age group. While elderly men are more
likely than women to be employed, since 1994
the percentage of employed older adults has
increased faster among women than men (data
not shown). In 2006, 23.5 percent of 65- to 69-
year-old women were employed, compared to
17.3 percent in 1994, an increase of almost
39 percent. Among women aged 70–74,
12.7 percent were employed in 2006, an increase
of 53.0 percent since 1994. Likewise, the
percentage of women aged 75 and older who
worked rose 26.5 percent from 1994 to 2006 (3.4
to 4.3 percent, respectively).
According to a report by the U.S. Census
Bureau, those who choose to retire cite a variety
of reasons, including being required to do so,
poor health, wanting to do other things, and
wanting to spend time with family. Very few cited
not liking work as a reason for retirement.1
> VERTICAL
BAR CHART: Representation of Adults Aged 65 and Older in
the U.S. Population, by Age and Sex, 2005
>
Line CHART: Employed Women, Aged 55 and Older, by Age, 1994-2006
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