Sharon Tagle thought her finances were in order when she retired seven years ago. However, she recently returned to work.

In December, the 68-year-old got a job at Home Depot as a cashier working 20 hours a week. She said her concerns about inflation and a failed home sale influenced her decision. She earns $15 hourly and expects to work for the next few months, longer if her financial conditions remain tight.

"I'm sorry that I left my job as soon as I did, but things were getting to me, and I just didn't want to work anymore," Tagle, who lives in Tampa, Florida, said. "I was not as frugal as I could have been. We're still having a good time, just not having it as much."

She retired from her role as a personal injury claims adjuster from an insurance company with about $250,000 in savings. She and her husband receive about $3,400 monthly in combined Social Security. The couple hoped to sell their home in Florida two years ago and move to a state with a lower cost of living, but they couldn't secure a buyer.

Tagle is one of dozens of older Americans who told Business Insider recently that they're either holding on to their jobs or unretiring because of economic uncertainty and pessimism about their financial futures. Those who are unretiring said they're nervous about the fate of Social Security, Medicaid, and other government benefits amid federal budget cuts. Others fear how their retirement savings and investments will fare as tariff policies continue to roil the stock market. This story is part of a series on older workers.

To be sure, returning to work is often out of the question for many older Americans. Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, a research fellow at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, said many older Americans couldn't return to work or had limited options because they worked physical jobs that they're no longer capable of doing. These workers often lacked employer-based retirement systems like 401(k)s, which hurt their retirement plans.

Uncertainty about Social Security and Medicaid has fueled some fears

Earlier in April, House Republicans voted to pass a GOP budget plan that included $880 billion in cuts for the House Energy and Commerce Committee over the next decade, whose main programs are Medicaid and Medicare. As part of reconciliation, GOP lawmakers are set to add details to the proposal, such as whether federal Medicaid funding would be reduced and by how much.

Trump has said that he will not cut Social Security benefits or touch Medicare. But the Social Security Administration has outlined plans to cut as many as 7,000 employees, which could increase wait times for recipients seeking assistance. Former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley, along with staff inside the agency, told BI that disruptions could lead to interrupted benefits.

While investors and economists have grown more concerned about a recession this year, they remain divided on whether it will happen. That hasn't eased some older Americans' fears, prompting some to reenter the workforce.

But for many older Americans, finding the perfect job may be out of the question. Amanda Clayman, a financial therapist, said many older job seekers have to deal with rejections from employers due to factors including ageism. She said people should be open to a wide variety of jobs, as any boost to their finances could be worthwhile.

"The goal may no longer be finding the right job or what the right job might be," Clayman said, adding older Americans should consider taking temporary or part-time positions even if they're not desirable.

Some are unretiring to start businesses

Diann Witherspoon, 72, said recent financial insecurities had pushed her to prepare to restart her fiber art and quilting business.

Witherspoon, who lives in Ohio, said she's always lived paycheck to paycheck, raising two special needs children and "working myself to death" to provide for them. She held accounting and property management jobs while sewing on the side. After back and knee surgeries, Witherspoon said there weren't many jobs she could do now.

She was laid off in 2017 the day she returned to her office after surgery, and her husband died of lung cancer a few years later. She shuttered her quilting company in December 2022 after a period of grief and had more back surgeries a year later.

She lives off half her husband's retirement income, which is $467 monthly, and $2,137 in monthly Social Security. It's enough to cover her $1,700 monthly house payment but not enough to have much left after other expenses. Her son, who lives with her, helps pay the bills.

Witherspoon said she's working to make new patterns to sell online and start teaching. She hopes to sell a few pieces a month and earn between $2,000 and $5,000, but she doesn't want to scale so large that she'll need employees.

"I just want to be able to sustain it myself so that we can survive, and I'd like to get something going so it just keeps producing income," Witherspoon said. "For the first time in 72 years living in this country, I am afraid."

Some retirees are struggling to find work

Moira MacLean, 69, retired as a social assistance case manager 2 ½ years ago, though she knew she would have to return to work at some point. The former lawyer, who lives in a community for older folks, left her position when she feared her company wouldn't let her work part time because she was fatigued.

MacLean, who lives in Washington, was getting by with savings and her $2,280 monthly Social Security payments, but with her money dwindling, she put herself back on the job market over the past few months in search of a similar role. She hasn't had luck yet, and she feels her age and time away from the office haven't helped her applications.

She also tried starting a third-party seller business for household products on Amazon, which put her into debt as the business didn't take off.

"There is zero room for investing anything differently than I already have," MacLean said of her long-term planning. "I live too close to the edge to do anything about that."

Pam Hovland, 70, is also struggling to find work and fears a recession would make it even more difficult.

"It scares me to death," Hovland said of the prospect of an economic downturn. "So I'd like to try to get a job before it all takes effect."

Hovland, who also lives in Washington, worked as a medical transcriber until around 2005 when a health issue put her in a coma for three months and forced her into retirement. She relied on disability income until around 2020, when her benefits converted to Social Security income — she said she gets a check for $1,099 monthly.

But by 2022, Hovland began struggling to pay the bills and, at times, afford birthday cards for her grandchildren. While she was able to reduce her rent through a Department of Housing and Urban Development program, she's still searching for customer service or fast food roles.

"I desperately need to get back to work," she said, "but because I didn't build up enough money when I became disabled, I'm very much scraping by."

• Some Americans in their 80s are working past retirement age, but not because they need the money.
• They told BI their jobs bring them fulfillment and social connections.
• The number of US workers over 80 has grown 24% since 2022, but is still a small amount.

As he approaches 90, Al Faber often works 50-hour weeks. But he's not doing it for the money.

"I'm 87 going on 67," said Faber, who hopes to work into his 90s. "Being a resource for as many people as you can be a resource for, including family and friends, is why I work."

Faber is one of dozens of Americans in their 80s who told Business Insider that they're working past retirement age for fulfillment and social connections — not because they need the money. Some of the people BI spoke with said they're still running companies they created decades ago, while others remain at a business or in an industry they love. The money they make has contributed to vacations or emergency medical expenses — but isn't the driving force keeping them employed.

Workers in their 80s and 90s represent a sliver of the US workforce, but their numbers have grown in recent years. Americans in their 80s and 90s account for about one in 1,000 of all US workers, per an analysis by the small business payroll and HR platform Gusto. The analysis was based on payroll records from over 400,000 small business customers.

However, the number of workers ages 80 and older has increased by 24% between January 2022 and February of this year. In comparison, total employment grew about 4% in that same time period.

Nich Tremper, a senior economist at Gusto, said this growth has likely been driven by two factors: People are living longer and the cost of living has risen in recent years.

"Things are still really expensive for folks who have retired," he said. "They might be considering going back into the workforce to start earning a little bit of extra money."

While the older Americans BI spoke to don't fall into this category, many people work past the retirement age of 66 or 67 due to financial reasons. Some previously told BI that a health scare or job loss ate into the savings that they hoped would carry them through retirement — and that their Social Security checks aren't enough to live on.

Tremper said workers 80 and older are most likely employed in education and health services. He added that the most employment growth since 2022 in this 80s and older cohort has come in retail and wholesale trade, where he thinks many people have found part-time work. Additionally, 85% of workers over the age of 80 were employed part-time, per Gusto.

Finding joy through the social connections of work

Faber, who lives in the Boston area, said that every day brings new conversations and lessons that improve his quality of life.

For most of his career, Faber worked in public accounting and held management positions in development counseling. In his 70s, Faber founded the consulting organization Alan Faber Growth Strategies and still runs it but works shorter hours these days.

Faber said he values meeting people face-to-face and remains physically strong by lifting weights and running. Some days are longer and more stressful than others, but Faber said regular interactions keep him fresh.

"If it was strictly for money, I wouldn't be doing a lot of the pro bono work," Faber said. "I see people who are 60 and 70 walking around like they're 10 years older than me not doing anything, not interacting with people, and it's sad."

Helping people is one of the main reasons Charles Mango is still working. He's been a retinal specialist for 53 years and works five days a week.

"I could retire tomorrow if I wanted to," said the 82-year-old, who's based in Syracuse, New York. "I don't really have to work."

Mango said he continues to work because it keeps him busy and he loves his job — in particular, talking with and caring for patients. He's cut back on performing major surgeries in hospitals since the pandemic but will do minor surgeries in his office.

"As long as my health allows, I'm going to continue," he said. "I have no reason to stop."

Passion for a business can make it difficult to stop working

Andrea Hutchinson doesn't want to stop working at the restaurant where she's devoted the last 40 years of her career.

The 82-year-old works about five hours a day, twice a week, as a director of operations at Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que in Williamsburg, Virginia. She's held different roles at the restaurant and said she's seen it go through ups and downs. But her commitment to its success has, at times, been an "obsession."

"The friendships, the activity, keeping myself busy, also the pride I have in what we have been able to do," she said. "That's a lot to give up."

Hutchinson said if her restaurant job ended, she doubts she'd look for work elsewhere.

"If you have someplace you can go where you feel needed and people listen to you, it's wonderful," she said.

Jay Crisford, 83, is also deeply invested in a business — one he started in 1993. Crisford, who's based in the Dallas area, continues to run Front Desk Office Furniture, an eight-person company that sells new and used furniture for professional settings.

He said he's gearing up for a "pre-retirement," which would mean fewer hours at work and more leisure time, but doesn't think he'll ever stop working.

When people tell him he should retire, Crisford replies, "I'm retired on the weekends." Crisford said he works to remain social and continue hitting professional and personal goals. He added that he has too many connections and deep knowledge of the industry to call it quits.

"I don't know what age has to do with retirement, and I think there's a lot of people who shouldn't be working if they don't enjoy it," he said.

• Uber and Lyft drivers are struggling with inconsistent tipping.
• Americans were less likely to tip rideshare drivers in 2024 than drivers for platforms like Grubhub.
• Drivers are trying new strategies, while others say it's not worth the effort.

Jay Keleher said his Uber passengers don't tip as often as they did a few years ago. To combat that, he'll try to win them over with a joke.

"If you can make someone laugh within the first 30 seconds, it's going to be a good trip, and you're going to have a good tip," the 42-year-old told Business Insider.

But strategies like this have only helped so much. Keleher's tip rate — the amount he received in tips relative to his base earnings from trips — is 11.6% this year, according to screenshots from 10 weeks between January and March provided to BI. Per Keleher's calculations, his tips as a share of his total earnings have dipped from about 17% over the last four months of 2024.

Keleher isn't the only driver struggling to land tips. Drivers, riders, and gig economy experts told BI that tipping customs for rideshare drivers, rising fares, and inconsistent driver service could be contributing to lower tips. However, while many drivers are testing new strategies to increase the frequency of receiving tips, others have given up — some said the efforts rarely paid off.

Do you work in the gig economy and are you open to sharing your experiences? Please fill out this quick Google Form.

Data provided to Business Insider by Gridwise, a data analytics company that helps gig drivers track their earnings, showed that Americans were much less likely to tip their Uber and Lyft drivers last year than drivers for platforms such as DoorDash, Grubhub Instacart, and UberEats. Gridwise analyzed 171 million trips to compile its findings.

"While tipping culture in restaurants is fairly well-established in the United States at this point, it's still evolving when it comes to rideshares, and many riders may not understand the financial realities of rideshare driving," Nick Leighton, co-host of the manners and etiquette podcast "Were You Raised By Wolves," told BI in June. "This may explain why there's so much inconsistency currently in when or how much riders choose to tip."

Uber told BI that its drivers and couriers collectively earned $20 billion, including tips, in the fourth quarter of last year — a 16% increase from the same period the year prior. Lyft pointed BI to statements made by CEO David Risher in the company's latest earnings call, in which he said drivers collectively earned nearly $9 billion in 2024, more than any other year.

Seven ride-hailing drivers shared what strategies have helped them land tips and why sometimes providing good service is not worth the effort.

How drivers try to win over customers and get tips

Christina, an Uber and Lyft driver in Las Vegas, said about half of her passengers tip on a good day. She feels tipping is inconsistent and that sometimes her efforts to please customers go unnoticed.

"The last few months have been hard," said Christina, whose identity was verified by BI but who asked to use her first name for fear of professional repercussions. "The pay from Lyft and Uber has been not enough to cover gas at times. It's made me look at alternatives."

She keeps a clean car, has a bubbly personality, and tries to connect with passengers by asking questions. But she's not always talkative: When she looks in the mirror and sees a passenger on their phone, she takes that as a cue to stay quiet.

"I think when a customer feels closer to you as a person — that they could see themselves in the position of the driver — then they are more likely to tip," Christina told BI in June. "However that still doesn't guarantee a tip because I've had fantastic rides and conversations, and they give me a compliment but no money."

When her mother was dying a few years ago, Christina sometimes mentioned it in conversation, which drove up tips. Still, she has to fight for tips. Some riders have told her they don't know how to tip, forcing her to show them on the app. Some international passengers don't tip because they don't understand tipping culture, she said.

Being helpful to tourists has been an effective strategy for Marilyn Cassidy, an Uber and Lyft driver in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She drives a few days a week to supplement her Social Security income and gets tips for nearly 50% of her rides, she told BI in June. Cassidy said female passengers are often relieved to have a female driver and tip more. Still, she acknowledges there's only so much she can do. Sometimes, the app's navigation falters, she said, which can delay some rides and result in lower tips.

"There are some days when I don't see any tips at all," Cassidy told BI in June.

Some drivers like Jillian, 67, who is based in Santa Clarita, California, have a simple solution for getting more tips — before riders exit her car, she asks them nicely if they could leave a tip.

However, it's not a perfect strategy. She told BI that tipping continues to be unpredictable.

In addition to telling jokes, Keleher said he tends to avoid accepting ride requests for passengers who have below a 4.7 rating, in part because he thinks they'll be less likely to tip. He said drivers rate passengers before knowing whether they receive a tip — so tipping isn't incorporated in the rating — but he still thinks a highly-rated passenger will generally be more likely to tip.

Some drivers have given up

Alex Santiago, an Uber driver in northern Virginia, used to dress business casual and catered music to passengers. But after years of inconsistent tips, he stopped trying so hard.

Some days, he drives with slippers on. Other days, he listens to podcasts he wants to hear. After making these changes, he said he hasn't seen tips decline.

"I'm not providing amenities such as water and games — I don't run a day care, I drive a car," Santiago, who's in his late 40s, told BI in June.

Jason S. told BI in June that the frequency and quantity of tips he's received fell during the pandemic. Between a third to half of riders tipped him pre-pandemic, but last year he was lucky if it was one in six, he said. He suspects increasing rates for riders has reduced tips, as he hasn't changed his driving habits.

"I used to look at tips as extra, now I desperately need those tips to keep my hourly up," Jason, who's in his early 50s, told BI in June. "I used to be able to earn anywhere from $32 an hour up to as much as $55 an hour with good bonuses. Now, if I hit $25 an hour, it's a miracle."

He thinks there's nothing he can do differently to maximize tips. Those who tip likely always tip regardless of service, he said.

For some drivers, trying to get tips can backfire.

Andre Kingston said passengers sometimes reprimand her for trying too hard to get tips. The Detroit-based driver said she's received one-star reviews for "talking too much" or not being polite, even though she says she always greets people and asks them for their music selection.

Kingston, who's in her early 50s, told BI that tips are rarer and lower than last year. She suspects it's because of higher fare rates.

Low tipping levels prompted Jason D, a 50-year-old Uber and Lyft driver in Phoenix, to no longer provide the same level of service.

"I used to open doors for everyone and adjust the seats for everyone and offer whatever music request any passenger wanted and engaged in whatever conversation the passengers wanted to engage in," he told BI in June. "But I don't get tipped for it anymore, and I'm over it."

He said his new strategy is to not accept rides that pay him below $20, even though this has lowered his acceptance rate and made him ineligible for Uber's driver rewards program. He said receiving a customer's appreciation isn't as useful as a tip.

"I am not working for star ratings or appreciation," he said. "Those do not pay my bills."

This story was initially published on June 28, 2024, and was recently updated with additional interviews and data.

• Older Americans are taking blue-collar jobs or navigating unemployment because of hiring slowdowns.
• Many said that ageism, tech changes, and economic shifts have affected their retirement plans.
• Some said they've found career fulfillment, while others have struggled with financial uncertainty.

Pete Petersen, 58, doesn't know when, if ever, he'll be prepared to retire as he hoped.

Petersen, who spent much of his career working for a consumer products healthcare division of a pharmaceutical company, hasn't worked full-time since early last year. Petersen, who lives in Massachusetts, has been looking, but many jobs pay below the six-figure salary he was earning a few years ago. While he could retire later this year, he would live on half the budget he would've hoped to.

"I could tap my 401(k) in nine months, but then my retirement isn't what I wanted it to be," Petersen said, adding he's accepted he may never land a dream job again. "I need one more job and 401(k) to be able to travel."

Do you have a story to share about working into your later years? Please fill out this quick Google Form.

Business Insider has heard from over 600 older Americans who are either looking for work or still working. Unemployed people said it was very difficult to find a job, thanks to ageism in the hiring process, rapidly changing technology, and a lack of open roles that meet their salary expectations or skill sets. Meanwhile, those with jobs are weighing retirement against their financial needs and the sense of purpose they get from work.

As of February, 37.8 million people over the age of 55 were employed and 1.1 million were unemployed, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Through emails and online nonrepresentative surveys over the past three months, readers shared their job search struggles, retirement challenges, and the ways work boosts their savings while keeping them busy. BI combed through more than 500 reader responses from workers 55 and older and over 100 emails and found four main themes. This is the first story in a new series on how older Americans navigate work.

It's hard to get a job as an older American

Scott Strohmyer, 60, has looked for work since he was laid off last year from his partnerships manager job. He said unemployment hurt his finances and forced him to leave Los Angeles — where he lived for 30 years — and move in with family in Nebraska.

Strohmyer said he passed the first round of interviews with six employers but hasn't received a job offer. He's concerned his age and employment gap have made companies less likely to hire him.

"If you don't work for six months, you're quickly becoming irrelevant because technology evolves and changes so quickly," said Strohmyer, who worked in IT for over two decades.

Strohmyer often sees jobs posted that have hundreds of applicants.

"If you see over 100 applicants and the job has been posted for longer than a day, don't even bother, because they're probably only looking at the first 30 to 50," Strohmyer said.

Most older Americans said searching for work late in their careers was challenging. Some recalled recruiters telling them they were too experienced, while others said they were passed over for younger applicants who would accept less money. Higher-paid white-collar workers said open positions in their former pay range were rare.

A few dozen said they haven't learned to use new hiring technology, while others wished they kept up with AI developments to be more marketable.

Some, particularly those over 70 who work because they need the money, said physically demanding positions were off the table, while others said they couldn't sit at a desk for eight hours.

Patty Blue Hayes, who is in her early 60s, has struggled to generate enough income over the past few years. She worked as an independent contractor for a professional training company until 2023, when her program was discontinued.

In 2019, Hayes moved from California to Panama to save money. While she's benefited from the lower cost of living, she said she's struggled to find steady work.

Hayes relies in part on income from a guest house she rents in Panama through Airbnb, but it's not enough. To cover her essential expenses, she said she's used credit cards but has racked up more than $2,000 in debt.

Many are resorting to blue-collar jobs

Many older Americans told BI that they have switched to or are considering blue-collar or noncorporate work because of the slowdown in white-collar hiring.

Some now begrudgingly drive for Uber, work as cashiers, or wait tables. Others said they've appreciated the increased flexibility and reduced stress of these jobs.

In 2018, Victor Jerome retired from his nearly 30-year management career at Ikea. But Jerome said retirement soon became "boring," so he signed up for the gig platform TaskRabbit. Customers pay him to assemble furniture and mount TVs, and he made roughly $55,000 through the platform last year. He said he plans to "really retire" in two to four years.

"After sitting behind a laptop for years planning new stores, the physical nature of tasking was refreshing," said Jerome, 61, who lives in Baltimore.

It's hard to know when to retire or know how much you need

A common theme among respondents was an unwillingness to retire, fearing they wouldn't have enough income through Social Security to live comfortably. Another problem is that they don't know how much they need to retire comfortably.

It's a conundrum for financial advisors, many of whom only agree on certain big-picture principles, like saving consistently and diversifying investments. Financial advisors have told BI that each person's goals and circumstances vary, so there isn't a set number someone needs for retirement.

Stacy Kopper, 63, is unsure how much she'll need or at what age she may stop working entirely.

Kopper, who lives in Wyoming, has worked as a freelance travel director and planning assistant for the last two decades. She earns in the mid-to-high five figures annually.

Kopper thinks she'll need to work for the next few years on a part time basis to stay afloat. While she has about $250,000 in her IRAs, said she doesn't own property and house sits for friends. She and a pal are saving up so they can afford a mortgage together.

Even if she saves enough, Kopper isn't sure if she'll retire. The idea of working at an animal shelter appeals to her.

"My father retired and spent almost every day fishing off the docks, and that was his idea of retirement," Kopper said. "That was not me. I don't see myself sitting around."

Some millionaires are retiring early, while others don't want to retire at all

Many respondents who are better prepared for retirement said they were careful with their money during their careers. Some told BI they wanted to retire early because they derive purpose from family, travel, and other non-work parts of their lives. Others said they could retire, but they're more fulfilled working and fear they would be bored or lose meaning at home.

Jeff Dupper, 57, retired early in December after 35 years working in the aerospace industry. Dupper, who lives in a Denver suburb, earned a robust salary during his career and kept his money in Vanguard low-cost index funds.

After determining he should have enough saved to get him through his 90s, Dupper retired when he and his wife were in the mid-seven-figure net worth range. Dupper said he regrets being too conservative with his money earlier in life, though he said retiring early has given him peace of mind despite some initial hesitation.

"Everyone focuses on the numbers because you can see them, and there's math involved, but there's a soft side," Dupper said. "I lost sleep envisioning the day I would turn in my notice, whether I would regret it financially or would lose purpose."

• Some older professionals have taken blue-collar jobs in response to a white-collar hiring slowdown.
• Blue-collar roles are helping some people make ends meet while they continue their job searches.
• Transitioning to blue-collar work can come with reduced pay and résumé challenges.

After a decade riddled with layoffs, burnout, and unsuccessful interviews, Donald Malone, 65, decided it was time to take a break from the corporate world as a consultant.

Finding alternative income has been harder than he expected, and he hasn't been able to match his previous $60,000 annual salary.

After dozens of applications, the New Jersey resident found a job on Craigslist for a company that makes machines to manufacture paper and cardboard. The blue-collar position paid about half his white-collar salary but covered travel and car expenses. He also worked for various car retail companies and held a part-time security position earning $1,200 monthly, though he couldn't secure any white-collar positions.

However, after a heart attack and stroke earlier this year, he hasn't worked. He's relying on his monthly Social Security payment of $2,187, which covers his mortgage, but he's worried his skills haven't kept up and that his age and time outside white-collar work may be a detriment.

"I'm not a couch potato or someone that likes to get up and just waste the day doing nothing," Malone said, adding he's considering taking up real estate.

Do you have a story to share about working into your later years? Please fill out this quick Google Form.

Dozens of older Americans recently told Business Insider that they've struggled to reenter the white-collar workforce after a layoff. Many suspected their age or salary expectations made them less desirable hires than younger workers, leading some to pivot careers. While some said they've embraced lower-paying blue-collar jobs as truck drivers or custodians, others have begrudgingly taken whatever job they could while applying elsewhere. BI spoke to five older Americans for this story.

Older Americans have good reasons to believe their job searches have been harder this year than previously. Excluding a two-month pandemic-related dip in 2020, US businesses are hiring at nearly the lowest rate since 2013. Plus, a slump in white-collar hiring means that in sectors such as marketing, banking, and finance, job postings have fallen considerably from their peaks in 2022 to below levels seen in February 2020, as reported by job platform Indeed. Meanwhile, 2024 AARP research found that nearly two-thirds of workers 50 or above have experienced or seen workplace age discrimination.

To be sure, the unemployment rate for Americans age 55 and older was 3% as of January, which remains near historic lows. Additionally, it's not just older Americans having a harder time landing white-collar jobs. Some recent college graduates — including MBA grads from prestigious universities — are facing challenges as well.

Leaving white-collar work without a return ticket

Many older workers said they've embraced that some income is better than none, even if the work doesn't align with long-term goals.

Eric Nielsen, 50, worked for much of his career as an account and sales executive at financial institutions. He recalled rubbing elbows with billionaires and earning good money, but after a layoff in 2023, he's resorted to side hustles.

"What happens is you turn 50, and you're going to be getting interviewed by someone that might be half your age, and they're not going to make a connection with you," said Nielsen, who lives in Colorado. "I'm willing to go work at McDonald's or Burger King, which I was never willing to do when I was younger."

Nielsen works for a nonprofit and holds other part-time gig positions, including Uber Eats and hosting wine parties. He said he's sent out dozens of unsuccessful applications, many of which were for roles with hundreds of candidates.

He said he's been on the brink of homelessness. Last year, he made about $27,000. He said he has about $60,000 in student loan debt from his master's degree, which some people have told him to take off his résumé to not appear overqualified.

"I'm just trying to hang in there to see if I can get that job offer," Nielsen said. "I realize I'm not going to make a million dollars, but maybe I can get in that $65,000 to $80,000 window."

As Americans work later in their lives, many take up blue-collar jobs — some of which come with risks. In 2024, about 18% of workers in agriculture and hunting roles were 65 or older, compared to nearly 8% in retail trade, 6% in manufacturing, and over 5% in transportation and construction, BLS data shows. Dozens told BI last year that they've worked gig jobs like Uber driving, echoed by 2023 AARP statistics that found 27% of older workers do gig work or freelance jobs.

Blue-collar work is hard to find, too

To be sure, some older workers who have applied for blue-collar roles said they're often hard to get.

While some blue-collar professions have experienced worker shortages, many industries require specialized degrees or certifications that often take months or years to complete. Given the time commitment, some older Americans who worked in white-collar jobs said they haven't bothered to become certified in industries like trucking or plumbing.

David Fischer, 54, held marketing roles in the Bay Area and Portland, Oregon, before a layoff last May, adding he had never received a negative review in his career. He's struggled to find a comparable white-collar job since, despite sending over a dozen applications daily. Though he said he has enough saved to technically retire, he said it's too early to call it quits.

He applied for blue-collar jobs such as bus driving or operating a light-rail train, but he said he was rejected because the positions wanted more experienced people. He's spent much of his time attending networking events and interview workshops to get back into an office, though he acknowledges the market for his industry is saturated.

"I don't consider myself old; I know what my age number is, but I can hold my own with anybody," Fischer said.

• It's a tough job market out there, and experienced workers are not exempt.
• Some older Americans just want a few more years of work to boost retirement savings or stay busy.
• The jobs that are available don't pay enough to make them worthwhile, job seekers said.

Gino Marconi is struggling to secure full-time work, and it's messing with his retirement plans.

Marconi, who's 64 and lives in Plantation, Florida, earned $60,000 annually as a sales representative for an outdoor supply company until two years ago, when he resigned due to the stress of working long days on the road. Marconi previously held engineering jobs that paid more.

Since then, he said he's applied to over 600 remote and in-person roles across various industries and skill levels. He suspects many positions have rejected him because he's overqualified, and he's removed the years he's completed some degrees and certifications from some applications.

Marconi said he hopes to retire in a few years and rely on Social Security income, but his plans could change if he's unable to find higher-paying work.

"My home is paid off, my cars are paid off," Marconi said. "But I need to keep going until I get back to work."

Are you an older American who is still working or looking for work? Please fill out this quick Google Form.

As many Americans reach retirement age, they don't find themselves coasting into their golden years as easily as they may have hoped. Instead, as hundreds of older Americans told Business Insider in responses to reader surveys about work and retirement, they find themselves once again on the job market. Maybe they got laid off or quit a career due to health issues. Either way, they need just a few more years to reach a comfortable financial position — and it's tough out there for job seekers.

To be sure, the unemployment rate for Americans age 55 and older was just 3% as of January, compared to 4% for all workers. But for people of all ages who don't have jobs, the hiring landscape has become more challenging in recent years. Excluding a two-month pandemic-related dip in 2020, US businesses are hiring at nearly the lowest rate since 2013, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

In response to his job search struggles, Marconi is working part-time with a transportation company for a hotel chain and said he's taken steps to become a full-time insurance agent. He said he's grown frustrated with the application process — he recalled getting stood up at an interview — but is remaining optimistic while cutting back on unnecessary spending.

"I don't know when I'll retire because Social Security is not going to be enough," Marconi said, adding he's pickier about the roles he applies for. "My wife used to say I should do whatever increases my income, but I'm not going to work as an engineer making no money."

Working later in life for extra security

Some older Americans told BI that even though they could technically retire, they're holding out because they fear their savings and retirement income won't be sufficient if unexpected costs arise.

David F., 67, has been looking for work since last October — when he anticipated he would soon be laid off from his aerospace industry job. The layoff ultimately came in January.

Of the nearly 1,700 submitted applications he's tracked since beginning his job search, only 4% have yielded interviews, and none have amounted to a job offer yet. He said he's frequently encountered ghost jobs or positions with similar job descriptions to previous roles but significantly less pay.

"They're either looking for a unicorn and never finding it, or there's not really a position there, but they want to look like they're hiring," said David, who lives in Washington and asked to withhold his last name due to ongoing late-stage job interviews.

David doesn't have a firm retirement goal, but he hopes to retire within the next 5 to 10 years, assuming he finds a suitable position. After working in project management for nearly three decades, David briefly retired but returned to work to bolster his finances when the pandemic caused economic uncertainty. He said he's looking for work now because earning additional income would help him live more comfortably and stress less about retirement savings.

"My situation is not desperate, and although I've made mistakes in my retirement savings in the past, I'm not making those mistakes," David said.

David said he also wants to keep working to stay busy. He's among the older Americans who desire to keep working for reasons other than finances.

"There are the people that love their job, working or even volunteering," said Deb Whitman, AARP's chief public policy officer, adding, "There's sort of a social connection, a sense of purpose and meaning that people get."

Some older Americans' jobs are more crucial. While they hope to retire in the next few years, it's far from guaranteed.

In December 2022, David Schanen was laid off from his network engineer job. Over the last three years, he's struggled to find high-paying work in his industry.

"There's a lot of work for things that I'm qualified for, but people are paying like $25 an hour," said Schanen, who's 64 and based in Seattle. He said his network engineer job paid about $200,000 annually.

Schanen said he hopes to sell the two side businesses he started over the past decade and retire sometime in the next couple of years. However, he said his real estate photography and virtual concert businesses have only generated roughly $100,000 in combined revenues to date — not nearly enough to make his significant financial investments in them feel worthwhile.

Schanen's uncertain retirement outlook is why he's continued exploring other job opportunities. About six months ago, he began driving for Uber about 40 hours a week. He said he's frustrated with the gig's pay, but that it's given him the flexibility to control his own working hours and dedicate time to his businesses.

"Right now what I'm doing is just kind of keep helping me stay afloat," he said.

• Older Americans are facing career setbacks due to caregiving for aging parents, impacting finances.
• Many quit jobs or reduced their hours, unable to afford nursing homes for their loved ones.
• Some told Business Insider they weren't able to land back on their feet after taking years off.

Many older Americans are facing a difficult choice: leave behind a career they've built for decades to care for their parents, or stay at their job and cover the high cost of care.

In the late 1990s, Maylia Tsen's parents moved from New York to live with her in Southern California. Tsen said her mother was facing several health issues and that her area offered better access to healthcare. Tsen continued to work full-time as a VP of sales and marketing, but eventually, it became too difficult to balance the role with her caregiving responsibilities. Around 2005, she left the job she'd spent years working toward, which she said paid more than $150,000 annually.

"I couldn't take full-time hours," said Tsen, 63. "I couldn't make that commitment because I never knew what was going to happen with them."

About two dozen older Americans told Business Insider in responses to reader surveys about work and retirement that they moved, quit their jobs, or switched to a part-time work schedule to care for their parents. Many made the decision because taking on caregiving themselves was the most economical option, as they couldn't afford the high costs of nursing homes or other long-term care for their parents.

They're now earning less since they reentered the labor market or are struggling to get hired in the industries they worked in before stepping away.

Are you an older American who has struggled to secure work due to caring for parents? Have you struggled in general to find a job recently? To share your story, please fill out this form.

The most recent data on unpaid caregiving from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that over the combined years of 2021 and 2022, about 9 million or 21% of 55- to 64-year-olds provided eldercare, referring to unpaid care provided by family or friends to those 65 or older. This demographic did about four hours on average of eldercare each day.

A 2021 AARP report found, based on a survey of 2,380 caregivers, that they spent on average $7,242 annually of their own money. Among the 1,415 working caregivers in the survey, 29% had to take paid time off from work in the past year because of caregiving.

"It's been a real financial challenge and burden," said Tsen. "Caregiving has taken a toll on me, financially, physically, and mentally."

Tsen's mother died 11 years ago, but she still cares for her 97-year-old father. To facilitate her caregiving, she's turned down higher-paying work in favor of lower-paying jobs that offered her the flexibility she needed. To pay the bills, she's had to draw upon her savings and retirement funds.

Struggling to land work after a pause

Some people have continued to face career obstacles after scaling back their caregiving responsibilities. D. Peterson, 65, applied for jobs unsuccessfully for a year and a half after taking three years off to care for her mother.

Peterson, who lives in Georgia and asked to obscure her first name to protect her family's privacy, often switched jobs and worked as a leasing consultant, administrative assistant, and real-estate agent throughout her career. She made enough to live comfortably but called herself a "poor money manager" and said she didn't prepare well for retirement. Because of her financial situation and her mother's health, she moved in with her in 2010.

At the start of the pandemic, she quit her job where she was earning $40,000 annually to care full time for her mom, who was in her mid-80s. Once her siblings became more involved with caretaking in 2023, Peterson looked for work — only to realize that landing a role with a three-year gap and being close to retirement age would be challenging.

She wasn't familiar with the new hiring technology like online interviews, and there weren't many administrative assistant roles remotely or in her area. The available ones had hundreds of applicants. And because she switched industries during her career, she said she couldn't prove her authority in one field as easily.

Peterson landed a job at a library a month ago, which pays $11 an hour, but she injured her ankle two weeks in and said she's applying elsewhere. She doesn't foresee herself being able to retire as she relies on her $1,600 monthly Social Security checks.

"I'm trying to save as much as I can and finally put myself on a budget, but my main concern now is my mom, who's losing her memory and eyesight but doesn't want to go into assisted living," Peterson said. "It's hard to stay motivated when you feel like you don't have the skills or face age discrimination."

The labor market has been difficult for job seekers in general, including for older Americans, some of whom have taken huge pay cuts after a layoff or voluntary departure. Additionally, even though the unemployment rate is historically low, hiring rates have slipped from more than 4% a few years ago to 3.3% and 3.4% in recent months.

Rita Choula, senior director of caregiving for AARP Public Policy Institute, told BI that more companies should aim to support caregivers. This can look like offering leave for caregivers or changes to company culture to normalize caring for an older adult.

"It's great that you have vacation leave, but we really want caregivers who are under enough stress to be able to take that time for them to rest and reset," Choula said.

Only finding limited work options

Older Americans told BI that caregiving meant sacrificing career opportunities that didn't work with their schedules, often adversely affecting their finances.

"Many employed caregivers face strain in managing both caregiving and work responsibilities simultaneously," the AARP report said. "These consequences can lead to reduced job security, fewer employment opportunities, and ultimately, lower retirement savings."

In 2017, Robin, who asked to use her first name for fear of professional repercussions, sold her condo in the DC area and moved into a nearby one-bedroom apartment with her legally blind mother. She had just been laid off from her government relations job.

Robin, 62, said caring for her mother has had lasting effects on her career and earnings. To help pay the bills, Robin said she worked various retail jobs, including as a cashier at Walgreens. She said this income wasn't sufficient, and she had to deplete much of her savings and 401(k).

"During that time, I was unable to hold anything more than a part-time job," she said.

In 2022, Robin's mother died, which allowed her to pursue full-time government relations roles. But, despite her roughly 20 years of industry experience, she said she struggled to land a job.

"Employers just see the gap on your résumé, and they don't realize that your time was spent productively, but in a very different way," she said.

In September 2022, Robin enrolled in the Senior Community Service Enrollment program, which helps unemployed older people find work. She said the program helped her land a part-time data analytics role with the National Council on Aging — which she started in October 2023 — and that she's interviewing for a full-time position with the organization.

"I'm really hoping the job comes through," she said, adding, "I definitely have to recover my finances."

• Laid-off workers are taking lower-paying jobs amid a tough job market for white-collar roles.
• Many workers struggle to regain previous salary levels post-layoff.
• More than 800 people who experienced long periods of unemployment shared their frustrations with BI.

Some Americans who were laid off from high-paying jobs are responding to a tougher job market for white-collar workers by accepting a much lower-paying or lower-level role than they previously had.

Bill Rees, 65, said he earned about $130,000 annually as a hotel general manager, but after a layoff last year, he's struggled to secure anything in that pay range.

Rees now earns about $25 an hour at a property management company in Wisconsin, where he moved to care for his mother. He said bills are tight, and his high Medicare insurance premium is straining his finances. He said he doesn't spend much time looking for other jobs after hundreds of applications, though he's continuing to work hard to make ends meet.

"I just can't afford anything anymore," Rees said. "I anticipate having to work until at least 20 years after I'm dead to make it all come out even."

We want to hear from you. Are you struggling to get a job? Have you previously struggled but have a job now? Please fill out this quick form.

Rees is one of many Americans who have had difficulty finding work recently. Since October, more than 800 recent job seekers between ages 18 and 76 responded to Business Insider's informal, nonrepresentative surveys on job hunting and shared their stories with reporters through emails.

Struggling to make ends meet

Jamie Jewell, 58, worked in public relations and administrative assistant roles and made about $50,000 at the peak of her career with a company car and benefits. Between layoffs, she held temporary jobs as a radio producer and defensive driving instructor, though she's struggled over the past few years to find stable employment that pays her bills.

Jewell faced a divorce in 2016 that set her back financially, and she moved in with her uncle six years ago when finances got tight.

Jewell, who's based in the Dallas area, makes about $1,000 monthly answering phones for a generator company and cares for her dad and uncle. She said she has no money to retire or financially assist her children, and she plans to continue working. Despite hundreds of unsuccessful applications, she said she's holding onto hope that she'll land something better-paying.

"In a corporate restaurant interview, a bunch of people in their 20s and early 30s came into the room and immediately looked at me, starting to grow gray hair, and their faces fell because even though I was perfect for the position, they wanted somebody younger," Jewell said.

BI previously reported that older Americans often had regrets about their careers, such as not prioritizing education and switching jobs too often. Statistics show it's often harder for older Americans to return to a comparable role after a layoff. Contributing to that is what some see as age discrimination. In a 2022 survey conducted by AARP, 64% of people over 50 say they'd either experienced or witnessed workplace age discrimination.

The struggles of those laid off and seeking work have been partly driven by a hiring slowdown in the US. Excluding a two-month pandemic-related dip in 2020, US businesses are hiring at the lowest rate since 2013, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Per the BLS, about 1.6 million people had been looking for work for at least six months as of December, up from 1.3 million a year prior.

To be sure, the unemployment rate remains low compared with historical levels, and the layoff rate remains low, according to BLS data.

How to navigate a tough job market

Cam, 60, worked as a graphic designer and tech manager, making in the mid-$200,000 range before a layoff in June 2023, followed by a rescinded offer. After 18 months, he took a vice president of marketing position for a plumbing company in November — an upgrade in title but with a salary in the high five figures, less than half his previous role.

"I regret allowing myself to get pigeonholed within a single industry, as I think that has made my time getting re-employed particularly difficult because I was entirely in the technology industry," Cam said.

Cam, who asked to use his first name due to ongoing salary negotiations, said he may not have struggled as much with applications if he diversified his résumé. He's struggled to find work in the six figures, and finances are tighter than he anticipated. Still, he said he's hopeful he will land a position meeting his salary expectations and has enough to stay afloat.

In a challenging labor market, accepting a lower-paying or lower-level job can serve as a "career stepping stone rather than a step back," Jennifer Herrity, a career expert at Indeed, told BI.

Herrity said that workers who accept jobs quite different from their desired role should use the opportunity to gain experience, develop skills, and network effectively. When applying for roles, Herrity said that job seekers could consider excluding a role from their résumé if they think it's completely unrelated to their desired role.

Andrew McCaskill, a career expert at LinkedIn, said taking a "bridge job" can help people "stay connected to the workforce, gain experience, and avoid résumé gaps, which can ultimately make it easier to land your desired role when the job market improves."

However, this career decision comes with risks. McCaskill said accepting a lower-paying role could have long-term implications on earnings, as it could take a while for someone to work up to their prior salary. Additional challenges could come with taking a significantly different job "if the skills and experience gained cannot easily transfer to the roles you're pursuing," he said.

Individuals who transition to lower-level roles within their industry could have a better chance of bouncing back. Scott Fite began looking for IT roles when he was laid off from his systems analyst job last April. He said he spent a couple of hours every day applying for jobs but had little luck.

"I applied to everything that I could be considered qualified for, even if it might have been an inconvenient commute," Fite, who's in his 60s and based in Pennsylvania, told Business Insider.

When Fite's severance payments ended in October, he was still unemployed. It wasn't until late November that Fite said he received his first job offer: a programmer position that was fairly similar to his prior role. The downside was that the pay was $68,000 annually, roughly $21,000 less than he made at his last job. He decided to accept the offer.

Fite said his lower income has led him and his wife to eat out less, cut a few subscriptions, and pay for repairs for their two vehicles rather than buy new ones. Looking forward, Fite is optimistic that he'll be able to catch up to his prior compensation level.

"I think in three or four years, I'll be back where I was salary-wise," he said. "If I receive another offer for more money, I can always accept that one. I just needed to get going again."