American Seniors Are Working Longer in These Cities

The share of working Americans over the age of 65 is growing. Over the 20 year span between 1996 and 2016, the share of working seniors increased from 12 to 19 percent, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

While no one region had a monopoly on working seniors, a new study comparing the labor force participation rate for residents 65 years of age or more between 2012 and 2016 by SmartAsset found that the cities with the biggest senior populations tended to have seniors in the local workforce longer than in other cities. In 84 out of the 100 cities studied, the participation rate for seniors grew, and in five it remained unchanged.

Minneapolis takes the top spot. Census Bureau data shows that Minneapolis seniors have increased their participation in the labor force by 4.6 percentage points. In 2012, 17.5 percent of residents over the age of 65 were employed or looking to work but in 2016 that number climbed to 22 percent. Why seniors in Minneapolis have decided to stay in the workforce is unclear. However one potential explanation for why seniors here feel the need to keep working is the tax burden. According to our analysis, Minnesota is one of the least-friendly states for retirees.

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