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If you're considering working in retirement, you're not alone. The majority of Americans (55 percent) plan to work during their golden years, with 41 percent opting for part time and 14 percent full time, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus outbreak has ravaged the U.S. job market and dimmed the prospects for Americans to stay employed in retirement. A stunning 41 million people have filed for unemployment benefits since the global pandemic was declared a national emergency in March. Add the fact that the risk of suffering the worst COVID-19 outcomes rises with age and it's easy to understand why retirees can expect big challenges in seeking part-time work right now.
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The good news is that working from home has quickly gained acceptance during the outbreak. To help you find a good part-time work-from-home role, we started by identifying the most common part-time jobs held by workers over age 55, based on data collected by compensation research firm PayScale. Then, with the help of FlexJobs, an online job market specializing in flexible and remote work, we sifted through the list for positions that can be done remotely and are available now. (Note: FlexJobs charges users a fee to view its full job postings.) Bonus: A few of these occupations score highly among workers in terms of satisfaction and meaningfulness.
Take a look at these eight popular part-time jobs that retirees can do from home.
1. Bookkeeper
Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 46 percent (All part-time jobs: 24.5 percent)
Median hourly pay: $17.74 (All part-time jobs: $14.76)
Satisfaction rating: 77 percent (All part-time jobs: 63 percent)
High-meaning rating: 48 percent (All part-time jobs: 57 percent)
Who's hiring remote workers: ProLedge, AccountingDepartment.com, Supporting Strategies
Bookkeepers create and maintain a company's financial records, which includes issuing payments to suppliers and invoices to customers. Step up to the title of full-charge bookkeeper and you'll take on sole responsibility for a company's accounting matters, including supervising lower-level bookkeepers and accounting clerks. More older workers go for the full-charge role and enjoy the higher pay that comes with greater responsibility; 74 percent of all full-charge bookkeepers are over 55, and their median pay is $21.10 an hour. Either way, you can find opportunities to keep your accounting expertise at home and provide your services virtually.
2. Registered nurse
Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 23 percent
Median hourly pay: $32.03
Satisfaction rating: 66 percent
High-meaning rating: 76 percent
Who's hiring remote workers: Forward, Novasyte Health, Privia Health
Telehealth services were growing in popularity before the coronavirus hit the U.S. and got an extra boost from the pandemic. As a result, nurses and other medical professionals can continue providing care and expertise from the safety of their own homes.
But the standards for filling such jobs remotely are no more lax: You still need to have completed the rigorous education and training necessary to become a nurse. Plus, you have to maintain a nursing license in the state where you plan to work, which can be tricky if you're working remotely and are able to assist patients who live elsewhere. For example, the telemedicine nurse practitioner position with Forward requires a license in California; New York; or Washington, D.C., with a preference for candidates licensed to practice in multiple locations. (Licensure requirements vary by state.) Still, both the relatively high pay and the sense of meaning can make the hurdles worthwhile.
3. Administrative assistant
Portion of part-time workers over age 55: 22 percent
