Retired baby boomers and seniors over the age of 65 are increasingly taking jobs once held by teenagers in fast food restaurants, grocery stores and retail chains. Many teens today just don’t have time to work while they are in school with the demands of classes and increasingly competitive (and time-consuming) extra-curricular sports and other activities.
That’s why many businesses are casting a wider net to find employees and with 10,000 baby boomers retiring in the United States each day, there are large numbers of older adults looking for part-time work. Seniors may need extra money to fund a long retirement or enjoy the social interaction that working provides while still being flexible enough to enjoy travel, family and friends. And they make good employees; older workers tend to be punctual, reliable and friendly to customers.
According to a recent report in Forbes, older adults are also engaging in freelance work that puts their skill set to use while being in control of their hours. Many seniors will tutor, work as a nanny or driver for working parents, or turn a hobby like small engine repair or photography into a side hustle in retirement. This trend is expected to continue, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the number of working adults between the ages of 65 and 74 is expected to grow 4.5 percent between 2014 and 2024.
Seniors may be more willing to take a lower paying hourly wage in exchange for flexibility and a pleasant work environment. Staying socially and physically active is important for healthy aging and some older adults find that by volunteering or taking a part-time job, they can stay more relevant, engaged and generally happier without the stress associated with a full-time career.
Don’t know where to begin? Try a local staffing company that may have part-time positions or put your unique skills to work through a freelancer connection service like Upwork Global. There just might be the perfect “golden gig” ready and waiting.
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