10 cities where older workers thrive

There’s nothing magic about 65 when it comes to retirement. Many workers are continuing at their jobs well past that age, some are returning to work later in life and others are going

part-time. It’s a trend that is projected to rise. “Whether due to inflation or personal reasons, we’re seeing seniors either stay in the workforce or return to the workforce,” says Collin

Czarnecki, founder of Noble Digital Studio, which conducted research on older workers for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  “Overall, that’s growing over the next several years.”  Among adults

65 to 74, 25.8 percent are working and that rate is expected to grow to 30.7 percent by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can find older adults working anywhere

across the country but there are some hot spots according to the Chamber of Commerce’s research. And it’s not the usual suspects. New York City has a large population of older adults but

ranks low in older people still on the job, says Czarnecki.  “New York was ranked very low on the list of cities with the most working seniors. In total, 20.7 percent of seniors in New York

are in the workforce. Overall, the city ranks 106th out of the 170 cities within the analysis,” says Czarnecki. “Income could be a reason why the city has fewer working seniors compared to

other cities within the analysis.” Dallas, which ranked high in number of older workers, has the lowest percentage of seniors with retirement income, he says.  Another reason a city may have

more older workers is the industries in the region. Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Virginia, ranked high in older workers and that may be due to the number of federal workers. Over a

quarter of federal employers are 55 and older, says Czarnecki, pointing to an often cited Politico survey.  Anchorage, Alaska, has a high number of older workers in part because the state’s

large fishing industry employs many older workers. The median age of workers in that profession is 52.3, says Czarnecki. JOBS POPULAR WITH OLDER ADULTS The jobs workers 65 and older are

doing range from farmers to CEOs.  Some require years of experience and training. Others offer flexibility for older adults who want part-time work, says Czarnecki. “Occupations such as

farming, ranching and judicial workers typically take time in terms of gaining proper experience,” says Czarnecki.  “Elsewhere, seniors that seek out part-time work might be attracted to

jobs that offer flexibility, such as school bus drivers or shuttle bus drivers.”  SOME PLACES ARE POPULAR WITH THE OLDEST WORKERS Getty Images/AARP Without a doubt older adults are staying

in the workforce longer. Here is a look at what cities and jobs they are in.  CITIES WITH HIGH RATES OF OLDER WORKERS 1. ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA Total 65+ population: 19,750 Total 65+ workers:

7,270  Rate of participation: 36.8 percent  Median household salary: $84,125​ 2. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA Total 65+ population: 24,460 Total 65+ workers: 7,570 Rate of participation: 30.9

percent  Median household salary: $51,247 3. DALLAS, TEXAS Total 65+ population: 146,297 Total 65+ workers: 44,332 Rate of participation: 30.3 percent  Median household salary: $47,826 4.

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA  Total 65+ population: 31,905 Total 65+ workers: 9,639 Rate of participation: 30.2 percent  Median household salary: $83,229 5. WASHINGTON, D.C.  Total 65+ population:

85,615 Total 65+ workers: 25,188 Rate of participation: 29.4 percent  Median household salary: $60,159 6. PLANO, TEXAS Total 65+ population: 35,245 Total 65+ workers: 10,178 Rate of

participation: 28.9 percent  Median household salary: $66,982​ 7. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA   Total 65+ population: 36,611 Total 65+ workers: 10,449 Rate of participation: 28.5 percent