America’s Aging Workforce: Will We See an Influx of Older Workers in the Gig Economy?

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers over 55 make up nearly a quarter (23.2%) of the workforce in 2025, up from 22.1% in 2014. 1 2

A one-percentage-point shift is larger than it might seem. In a labor market of approximately 175 million, that translates to almost 2 million people. 3

What’s more, the growth of the older workforce outpaced that of the general workforce by 5.6% in that same period. 4 Notably, the 65+ demographic saw the fastest growth of any age group, with its share of the labor market increasing by over 40% during that period. 4

Those numbers reflect a trend. Many older Americans are either delaying retirement or re-entering the workforce (often by picking up work on a gig-focused job board) after officially calling it quits, a phenomenon known as “unretirement.” 5

Economic volatility

A 2025 survey from F&G Annuities & Life investigated the unretirement phenomenon. It found that around 23% of workers over 50 are delaying their planned retirement, up from 14% the year before.

Half of the respondents cited economic volatility as the key factor behind their decision. 6 They said they were worried about inflation and a potential recession that could affect their financial readiness for retirement. 6

As of June 2025, 1 in 6 retirees had returned to work or was considering it to offset financial pressure, according to Standard Life and Pension Policy International. 7 8

Others may be postponing retirement to maximize their income. By delaying their Social Security collection beyond the “normal” retirement age (which is either 66 or 67, depending on birth year), workers can set themselves up to earn 8% more in monthly benefits for each additional year they work until they turn 70. 9 10

73-year-old Pat Archer is among the many retirees who have picked up a side hustle to make ends meet. She retired in 2020 after working as an accountant for two decades.

“I had worked hard for many years and thought I would be fine financially,” she told The New York Times. However, it turned out that Archer’s $2,200 in Social Security benefits and her monthly pension payment from her job weren’t enough for her and her husband to get by.

Her husband had health-related limitations that prevented him from returning to work, so Archer shouldered the responsibility and got a part-time job as a concierge at an assisted living facility four years ago. 11

Archer’s experience was fairly typical for an “unretired” worker. Some older workers who come out of retirement and enter the gig economy as seniors are after benefits beyond a salary—but the motivation usually does boil down to money, one way or another.

Financial pressures forcing retirees to take on gig work

Data from Empower found that the average American in their 60s has about $1.2 million in savings. That might sound like a lot, and it certainly isn’t nothing, but it isn’t necessarily enough to fund a decades-long retirement.

In 2026, a study from Northwestern Mutual found that on average, people believe $1.46 million is required for a comfortable retirement in 2026. 12 And, of course, $1.2 million is just an average; many retirees (and would-be retirees) have less.

That aligns with AARP’s findings in late 2025. About half (48%) of unretirees returned to work because of money issues. That doesn’t mean that they’re bad with money. The US is just “getting expensive to live and to stay retired” in, Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, a professor of economics at Boston College, told Yahoo! Finance.

Across the US, everyday expenses have been rising for years. Residential electricity bills grew by $40 from 2017 to 2025. The price of many consumer goods, including food, swelled in the spate of inflation that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2026, the average per-gallon price of gas rose from between February and June by $1. 13

“It’s like everything—electricity, beef, you name it—started going higher and higher, and the prices have just remained there,” Brandt Hess, a 57-year-old fraud investigator who returned to the workforce just a year into retirement, told The New York Times. 11

Goldberg, 74, who has a Ph.D. in neuropsychology, wanted to teach statistics as a part-time adjunct professor when his retirement savings ran out, but the job paid too little. He eventually signed up as an Uber driver, which he said is because he enjoys driving and interacting with people. 5

Some unretirees are seeking mental and emotional benefits

At the 2025 NCSL Legislative Summit, Policy Specialist Angela Rowe suggested that social connections and personal fulfillment are also driving the unretirement trend, although to a lesser degree. 15

She noted that the motivations for unretirement vary based on gender and marital status, saying, “Single retirees and women are much more likely to cite income as their primary motivator for returning to work after retirement, while men are more likely to cite the need for social connections.” 15

Baruch Schwartz, 78, a former wedding photographer, started driving for Lyft and Uber out of a desire to feel needed. “I feel like I’m on a mission,” he told The Associated Press, after driving a passenger home from their kidney dialysis appointment. 5

Beyond reducing isolation, working later in life may offer actual health benefits, according to a Harvard Health article. It may help keep chronic disease at bay and promote longevity, provided the job isn’t too stressful or physically demanding. 16

72-year-old Barbara Baratta found that her side hustle came with similar benefits. After retiring in 2018 as a pediatric nurse, she felt restless and joined Rover, a pet care app, to become a dog walker. 5

Baratta’s dog-walking gig keeps her active and fit, although she learned early on that her knees weren’t cut out for walking 80-pound dogs. That was an important lesson she said she often shares with her fellow unretirees: know your physical limits. 5

There isn’t much hard data showing exactly how many unretirees have entered the gig economy. However, anecdotal reports and the modest amount of data that exists suggest that the number is growing.

Indeed Flex, a temporary taffing platform, saw a 70% surge in users aged 62 and older between January and May 2024. 17 Many unretirees who have spoken to news outlets about their personal experiences also report favoring part-time roles or gig work over traditional 9-to-5 jobs. 5

Why are some older workers drawn to gig work?

The older workers who say they’re attracted to gig work tend to prefer it because it’s less demanding and offers more flexible hours. 8 18

They can take breaks as needed and tend to other responsibilities, such as babysitting grandchildren or going to doctor’s appointments. 5 Gig work is also an easier entry point back into the labor force when someone’s had a long career break—signing up as an Uber driver is much quicker than landing an office job for a 70-year-old who hasn’t worked in years.

Moreover, according to The Globe and Mail, retirement-age workers may place less importance on traditional benefits such as unemployment insurance, since Medicare and Social Security typically cover them. This makes gig work more attractive.

What types of gig work are older workers interested in?

According to Pension Policy International, older US workers are interested in a very wide range of gig work, including ridesharing, consulting, tutoring, pet sitting, and bookkeeping. 8

The publication advises seniors entering the gig economy to leverage their existing expertise. 8 For instance, a former engineer can earn much higher hourly rates as an IT consultant than as a rideshare driver.

Today’s workforce is older and more multigenerational than ever.

Industry leaders like Carly Roszkowski, Vice President of Financial Resilience Programming at AARP, encourage organizations to embrace older talent, noting that this demographic brings “durable human skills,” such as critical thinking, communication, and mentorship, that are increasingly valuable in the AI era. 15

Some firms are experimenting with paid, short-term programs called “returnships” that are tailored for experienced professionals returning to the workforce after long career breaks. However, these programs are still limited in reach and popularity. 21

For the millions of Americans navigating the unretirement trend, entering the gig economy is often still a more accessible, immediate solution. Unlike rigid corporate programs, gig platforms allow older workers to reclaim their financial security and autonomy on their own terms.