Americans age 55 and older are remaining in or rejoining the workforce, the data show.
In 2018, there were 176,608 jobs in West Michigan (all 13 counties) that were held by people over the age of 55, according to Economic Modeling Specialists International.
In 2013, EMSI reported 153,984 jobs in West Michigan occupied by people 55 and older. Five years before that, in 2008, EMSI listed 141,152 jobs held by those 55 and older in West Michigan.
“We, at 55, 56 years old, are in our prime right now,” said John Zimmerman, marketing and communications executive for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “We have the experience, we have the knowledge and we know how to work hard, we know how to pick ourselves up when we fall down, so there is so much left to be done. This is a fun time now because we’ve already proven ourselves that we can make things happen. We see plenty of people staying and working, working up until they are in their 80s.”
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