For decades, retirement followed a fairly predictable pattern in many American households. Men often retired first, while women either retired alongside them or left the workforce earlier due to caregiving responsibilities. Today, that pattern is changing in surprising ways. Across the United States, more women over 65 are continuing to work even as their spouses or partners step away from full-time employment.
Labor data shows nearly one in five Americans over age 65 remains in the workforce, and financial experts say older women are becoming an increasingly important part of that trend. But what’s behind this change? Here’s why more women 65+ are staying in the workforce longer than their partners.
