Older Workers Are the Happiest Workers, Survey Finds

Experience makes a difference, at least when it comes to job satisfaction. According to a recent survey, the older a worker is, the more likely they are to find their job fulfilling and enjoyable.

The Pew Research Center surveyed 5,902 workers nationwide, most of whom were not self-employed, to gauge how they really felt about their jobs. People age 65 and older expressed the most enthusiasm, with 67 percent saying they were extremely or very satisfied with their jobs. By contrast, only 55 percent of respondents between the ages of 50 and 64 said the same. The levels of job satisfaction dipped even lower for those ages 30 to 49 (51 percent) and those 30 and younger (44 percent).

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

The Pew survey, conducted in February, offers more evidence that people age 65 and older continue to work later in life because they find employment fulfilling. Their satisfaction is especially noteworthy, because the share of people 75 and older who are working is projected to grow significantly over the next seven years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Many older workers have reprioritized how their job fits into their life,” says Carly Roszkowski, AARP vice president for financial resilience programming. “They want work that is meaningful along with work-life balance and flexibility. The high job satisfaction rate found among older workers seems to indicate that they feel respected, included, and that their opinions are valued — attributes that older adults have repeatedly told us they look for in a work environment.”

Majority of older workers like their job responsibilities, managers

Pew surveyed only people who were currently employed, which means the results don’t include older adults who were unemployed due to health issues, disability, age discrimination or other factors. It also means that the older workers surveyed may have careers in which they are established and comfortable.