GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico – MyPerfectResume, a resume-building service, has released its new Workforce Aging Report, revealing that nearly 1 in 4 U.S. workers is now age 55 or older. 

Drawing on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey, the analysis highlights a major demographic shift reshaping retirement patterns, labor supply and workforce stability across industries.

“Workforce aging is no longer a future issue; it is happening right now across the American labor market,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume. “As more workers delay retirement and some industries struggle to attract younger talent, employers may face growing pressure to plan for succession, retention and knowledge transfer.”

The report’s findings include:

  • Total U.S. employment rose by 17.2 million workers between 2014 and 2025, representing an 11.7% increase.
  • Workers age 55 and older grew by 5.6 million during the same period, a 17.3% increase.
  • Older workers now make up 23.2% of the workforce, up from 22.1% a decade ago.
  • Even a 1-point increase is significant in a workforce this large, representing millions of people and a meaningful structural shift in labor force demographics.

The most dramatic increase came among workers age 65 and older:

  • 2014: 8 million workers age 65 or older.
  • 2025: 11.4 million workers age 65 or older.
  • Growth: More than 40%.

Some occupations already have a large share of workers nearing retirement age, raising long-term staffing concerns:

  • Farmers, ranchers and agricultural managers: 54.4%.
  • School bus drivers: 51.9%.
  • Transit and intercity bus drivers: 48.1%.
  • Clergy: 41.4%.
  • Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks: 39.9%.

Workers in some jobs are not only older but they are also aging rapidly, suggesting fewer younger workers are entering the pipeline:

  • Credit counselors and loan officers: +10.29 percentage points.
  • Maids and housekeeping cleaners: +9.03 points.
  • Food preparation workers: +8.09 points.
  • Billing and posting clerks: +7.59 points.
  • Welding, soldering and brazing workers: +6.26 points.

Several occupations combine a high share of older workers with rapid aging trends, increasing the risk of labor shortages as retirements accelerate:

  • Laundry and dry-cleaning workers: 43.2%, +13.1 points.
  • Payroll and timekeeping clerks: 35.4%, +9.4 points.
  • Personal care aides: 34.2%, +6.1 points.
  • Lodging managers: 34.1%, +9.5 points.
  • Machinists: 33.1%, +8.5 points.

The full report can be viewed HERE.