Retirees Are Being Forced to Return to the Workforce

Yet, a new trend referred to as “unretiring” has seen nearly 20% of the nation’s older generations return to work in their 60s and 70s for a plethora of reasons, ranging from financial troubles to boredom.

However, for some of America’s oldest generations, shortly after their initial retirement, a feeling of unfulfillment sets in, and many begin to search for part-time employment.

This term refers to anyone who is “already eligible to claim pensions [and] are returning to work for a variety of reasons.”

However, others who initially retired for several years decided that full-time retirement wasn’t for them. They have since rejoined the workforce, seeking a part-time job for extra cash, fulfillment, and company.

Rooch had formerly worked a computer job in Silicon Valley for most of his life before reciting over a decade ago. Now, he has taken on a 30-hour-a-week job at ACE Hardware.

“Well, I’ve always been handy,” Rooch said. “So this seemed like a perfect fit.”

“It’s no pressure. But it’s also very challenging because everyone who comes in has a challenge,” he said.

This figure has almost doubled since the late 1980s, suggesting the new trend of unretiring is likely motivated by financial reasons.

In 1987, the average American over 65 was paid around $13 per hour. By 2022, this had increased to $22.

“We have seen an increased interest in hiring older workers nationally,” she said.

The older generations even appear to find their jobs more fulfilling and enjoyable and claim to find them less stressful than younger workers.

While many are finally motivated due to inflation, others like Ed Rooch simply decided they didn’t enjoy the retirement lifestyle and would rather work, stating, “It’s something to do, or I wouldn’t know what to do.”