The Longevity Economy® Outlook reports are a series of data analyses from AARP that describe the contributions of Americans age 50-plus, worth over $9 trillion in 2018 and projected to grow through 2050.
As people live longer and healthier lives, they are contributing to communities and fueling economic growth well past the traditional retirement age. The contributions of people 50-plus benefit society and Americans of all ages, as growing numbers of older adults work, pay taxes, support the job market, give time and money to charitable causes, and provide caregiving support to family and friends.
NOTE: We updated all forecasts to account for the effects of COVID-19 on U.S. demographic and economic projections. These forecasts were informed by data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and The Economist Intelligence Unit’s macroeconomic forecasts.
Six insights from the AARP research you need to know:
Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Longevity Economy® Outlook: How People Ages 50 and Older Are Fueling Economic Growth, Stimulating Jobs, and Creating Opportunities for All. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, December 2019. https://doi.org/10.26419/int.00042.001
Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Economic Impact of Age Discrimination: How Discriminating Against Older Workers Could Cost the U.S. Economy $850 Billion. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, January 2020. https://doi.org/10.26419/int.00042.003
Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Economic Impact of Supporting Working Family Caregivers. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, March 2021. https://doi.org/10.26419/int.00042.006
Accius, Jean and Erwin Tan. Our Collective Future: The Economic Impact of Unequal Life Expectancy. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, February 2022. https://doi.org/10.26419/int.00042.008
Accius, Jean, Justin Ladner, and Staci Alexander. The Global Longevity Economy® Outlook: People Age 50 and Older are Making Unprecedented Economic Contributions and Creating Opportunity for Every Generation. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, November 2022. https://doi.org/10.26419/int.00052.001
The contributions of people ages 50 and older through 2050 will benefit society and Americans of all ages. Download and view the Longevity Economy® Outlook infographic.
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The 50+ population's spending on technology is forecast to grow from $140 billion in 2018 to $645 billion in 2050. Download and view the technology sector infographic.
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How discriminating against older workers could cost the U.S. economy $850 billion. Download and view the age discrimination infographic.
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Six in 10 working family caregivers struggle to fulfill both work and care responsibilities. Download and view the detailed findings in the working family caregivers infographic.
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The U.S. is projected to miss out on a potential $1.6 trillion (5.1%) in GDP in the year 2030 alone compared to a scenario in which there are no disparities in life expectancy during the coming decade. Read detailed findings in the Economic Impact of Unequal Life Expectancy infographic.
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