Older
Missourians Joining
the Workforce Rises
Missourians
are living longer and healthier lives due to advances in medicine
and technology. Recent American Community Survey data shows that almost
one in four Missourians between the ages of 65 and 74 are working or
actively looking for work, an increase that closely mirrors the
national increase from 19 percent in 2000 to over 23 percent in
2006.
Among border states, Nebraska (32.7%) had the largest percent of older workers in the workforce closely followed by Iowa (29.6%) and Kansas (29.5%). Kentucky (20.2%) and Tennessee (21.1%) had the lowest percentage of older workers in the labor force in 2006.
|
State: Percentage of 65 to 74 Year Old Workers in Work Force |
||
|
State |
2006 |
2005 |
|
Arkansas |
22.1 |
21.0 |
|
Illinois |
24.4 |
24.1 |
|
Iowa |
29.6 |
26.9 |
|
Kansas |
29.5 |
27.4 |
|
Kentucky |
20.2 |
19.1 |
|
Nebraska |
32.7 |
33.1 |
|
Oklahoma |
25.0 |
22.4 |
|
Tennessee |
21.1 |
19.6 |
|
Missouri |
23.3 |
21.9 |
|
US |
23.2 |
22.5 |
Among surveyed counties in 2006, Boone (31.7%) and Platte (30.5%) Counties had the largest percentage of older Missourians in the workforce. Some of the lowest counties include Cole (19.0%), Christian (19.1%) and Cape Girardeau (19.3%).
| County: Percentage of 65 to 74 Year Old Workers in Work Force | ||
| County | 2006 | 2005 |
| Boone | 31.7 | 27.4 |
| Buchanan | 22.9 | 15.2 |
| Cape Girardeau | 19.3 | 26.6 |
| Cass | 22.9 | 25.0 |
| Christian | 19.1 | N/A |
| Clay | 27.1 | 20.0 |
| Cole | 19.0 | N/A |
| Franklin | 24.0 | N/A |
| Greene | 19.8 | 20.1 |
| Jackson | 23.7 | 23.1 |
| Jasper | 23.4 | 19.6 |
| Jefferson County | 19.8 | 16.2 |
| Platte | 30.5 | 36.5 |
| St. Charles County | 27.2 | 23.6 |
| St. Louis City | 22.8 | 17.9 |
| St. Louis County | 25.3 | 22.8 |
| Missouri | 23.3 | 21.9 |
| US | 23.2 | 22.5 |
The top ten industries that employ workers 65 and older are led by Administrative and Support Services, Food Service and Drinking Places and General Merchandise Stores. Closely following are Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Ambulatory Health Care Services, and Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers.
|
Top Ten Missouri Industries That Employ Workers 65 and Up |
||
|
Rank |
Industry |
Number Employed |
|
1 |
Administrative and Support Services |
4,466 |
|
2 |
Food Services and Drinking Places |
4,089 |
|
3 |
General Merchandise Stores |
4,065 |
|
4 |
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services |
3,213 |
|
5 |
Ambulatory Health Care Services |
2,960 |
|
6 |
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers |
2,850 |
|
7 |
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities |
2,696 |
|
8 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods |
2,275 |
|
9 |
Social Assistance |
2,140 |
|
10 |
Real Estate |
2,125 |
