NJ senior citizens choose to stay employed even after retirement

The latest population survey conducted by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a rise in the number of workers, in the age group of 75 years and above, since 1985.

A total strength of more than 1.2 million people, aged 75 years and above, was a part of the working population till the last year, which is less than 20 percent of the 6.5 million people, who have crossed the standard retirement age of 65, but still working or searching for work.

The fact can’t be ignored that many senior citizens around 65 years of age, work for fulfilling their financial requirements, as it’s difficult for them to sustain on the meager amount of pensions or other retirement savings.

However, the experts found that the reason behind ‘super-senior’ people at work was related to a sense of fulfillment, as most of them worked for filling the void in their lives, created due to the lack of social interaction.

Mary Casey, an 89 year old lady, mother of two and grandmother of five is the oldest employee in the Somerset County Vocational Technical High School cafeteria.

Choosing to stay employed even after retirement age
Commenting on the rising number of seniors choosing to working after the retirement age, Stephen Scheinthal, associate director of the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging in Stratford said, "It’s not about putting them out to pasture, it’s about maximizing their functionality.”

Deborah Russell, director of workforce issues at AARP is of the view that an older worker’s preference to stay working is unavoidable, due to increased life expectancies with the help of medical and technological advances.

She said, "If we’re living to 85 and 95 and retiring at 65, that’s quite a bit of time to fill.”