With health insurance and retirement savings becoming more important for employees, more older workers are remaining in the workforce.
The percentage of Americans 55 or older who are continuing to work remained at 40.2 percent last year, maintaining the record set in 2010, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. That percentage has increased steadily since 1993, with some people staying around due to their own desires, while others continuing to work since they need employee benefits.
"This upward trend is not surprising and is likely to continue," said EBRI's Craig Copeland, author of the study. "Many workers continue to need access to employment-based health insurance as well as more earning years to save for retirement."
There was a significant difference between the percentages of men and women remaining at work as they aged. More than 46 percent of older men were working last year compared to just 35 percent of women.
Many workers have decidedly less confidence that they will meet their retirement savings goals. A recent survey from Country Financial found that just 58 percent of Americans were confident in their potential to retire comfortably in the future.
