Retirement is no longer a clean exit for many Americans. In 2024, about 19.5% of people age 65 and older were in the labor force, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from about 12.9% in 2000.
The timing matters. Millions of Americans are entering retirement while living costs remain high, life expectancy continues to rise, and fixed incomes feel less forgiving than they once did. For many households, fully stepping away from work no longer feels guaranteed.
