Older Workers Are Essential to the Workforce

Older workers are an essential part of the U.S. workforce, bringing experience, professional networks, institutional knowledge, and leadership that benefit employers and the economy. Yet AARP research shows that many older adults are working longer out of financial necessity while continuing to face barriers such as age discrimination and unequal access to opportunity. 

Older workers bring experience, stability, and value

Workers age 50-plus bring important advantages to the workplace. They average 15 additional years of career experience, and their professional networks are 20.4% larger and more senior than those of younger workers. They also demonstrate stability: Among workers hired in June 2024, 85.4% of those 50 and older remained with their employer one year longer. 

Their value extends across generations. Nine in 10 workers enjoy working with people of different ages, and 92% of employers say multigenerational workforces increase productivity. 

Older workers want to learn and adapt

Older workers are eager to build their skills. Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) workers age 50-plus actively seek opportunities to learn new skills. The gap between younger and older workers' participation in LinkedIn Learning has also narrowed substantially, from 13.5% in 2022 to just 1.6% in 2025.

That interest extends to artificial intelligence. Nearly half (49%) of older workers are interested in AI training, although only 12% have taken an AI-related course. 

Age discrimination remains a significant barrier

Despite the value older workers bring, nearly two-thirds (64%) of workers age 50-plus say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of older adults believe their age would be a barrier to getting a new job.

The findings point to an important opportunity for employers: Engaging and investing in older workers can help build a stronger workforce for the future. Meaningful work, flexibility, equitable access to training, and fair hiring and advancement practices can help older workers continue to contribute their experience, skills, and leadership.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Perron at rperron@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.