Long Unemployment, Nationwide Fraud Rise

Key takeaways

• Boost job prospects by updating your résumé and sharpening digital skills for today’s market.
• Stay alert to scams, as fraud targeting adults over 50 is rising at record rates.
• Protect finances by learning new fraud tactics and regularly reviewing your statements for suspicious activity.

Summary

Older Americans and unemployment are increasingly linked, as new data shows people age 55 and up are facing some of the highest rates of long-term unemployment compared to other age groups. While the overall unemployment rate among older workers remains low, many are growing discouraged as new AI hiring tools present added barriers to reentering the job market. Experts suggest that staying up to date on résumé best practices and building digital skills can help older job seekers improve their chances.

At the same time, fraud targeting older adults is on the rise, with an AARP survey revealing that four in 10 Americans over 50 have lost money to a scam — higher than any other age group. This underscores the importance of vigilance and proactive steps to protect financial security, especially as scammers increasingly target older populations. Staying informed about the latest fraud tactics and regularly reviewing financial statements are key to minimizing risk.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full Transcript

[00:00:04] Unemployment among people 55-plus remains relatively low, but more older
[00:00:09] job seekers could be growing discouraged. The March jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows
[00:00:15] workers age 55 to 64 face the highest rates of long-term unemployment
[00:00:21] compared with other age groups. Experts say one reason may be that new AI hiring tools can make it harder for
[00:00:28] older workers to get back in the door. The FDA has approved a new GLP-1 pill, expanding options for
[00:00:37] weight loss without injections. The once-a-day pill,  Foundayo, is expected to hit the market at an affordable price
[00:00:45] as the demand for weight loss medication continues to grow. It joins Wegovy’s first GLP-1 pill approved in December 2025.
[00:00:56] A new AARP survey shows fraud is affecting older Americans at higher rates.
[00:01:02] About four in 10 adults 50-plus say they’ve lost money to a scam, with Black respondents reporting the highest impact at 45%.
[00:01:12] Only 35% of those younger than 50 were fraud victims. The Federal Trade Commission reports Americans lost 12.8 billion
[00:01:21] to fraud in 2024, but experts say many cases go unreported,
[00:01:27] believing that number is only a fraction of total losses.