Cities with the Most Working Seniors
Which cities have the most employed seniors? We analyzed workforce data among the senior population across America’s largest 170 cities to determine where seniors are working.
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Whether due to financial reasons, increased longevity, or simply a personal desire, millions of Americans are working well past retirement age.
Nationwide, more than 10 million seniors aged 65 and over are still in the workforce, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And that number is forecasted to grow within the next several years.
Among adults ages 65 to 74, the workforce participation rate is expected to grow from 25.8% to 30.7% by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But which cities are home to the most working seniors?
We took a closer look at the senior workforce by analyzing senior employment data in 170 of the most populated cities across the country to determine where senior workforce participation is the most active.
Key findings
- Nationwide, nearly one in five (18.4%) of seniors aged 65 and over are still in the workforce, which is more than 10.6 million people.
- The Dallas metropolitan area has the highest percentage of working seniors in the nation. Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, tops the list, with nearly 30% of seniors still working. Nearby, Plano, Texas, ranks 3rd for cities with the most working seniors.
- Within the top 20 cities, six cities are located in Texas: Irving (No. 1), Plano (No. 3), Austin (No. 8), Lubbock (No. 13), Dallas, Texas (No. 14), and Arlington, Texas (No. 19).
- Clarksville, Tennessee, has experienced a 69.7% year-over-year increase in working seniors.
- Since 2010, the number of working seniors has increased from 6.1 million to 10.6 million.

In 2023, Texas cities dominated the list of fastest-growing cities in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. In terms of senior population growth, the Dallas suburbs of Plano and Irving grew by 17.7% and 10.7%, respectively. This growth has brought opportunities for seniors to continue working past retirement age. In Irving, nearly 3 in 10 seniors over the age of 65 are still in the workforce, while 27.6% of seniors in Plano are also still working.
In another Dallas suburb, Arlington, roughly 1 in 4 seniors are still working.
But Dallas isn’t the only Texas city with a high percentage of working seniors. Austin ranks 8th on the list, with 1 in 4 seniors (24.9%) still working.
With its large senior population, it’s probably no surprise that two Florida cities rank within the top 10 cities with the most working seniors. Fort Lauderdale (No. 4) and Hollywood (No. 9) both rank within the top 10.
Elsewhere, the Washington, D.C. area also has a high percentage of employed seniors. In D.C., 24.2% of seniors are still working, and in nearby Alexandria, Virginia, 24.1% of seniors are employed.
Top ten cities with the most working seniors
1
Irving, Texas
Total senior population: 23,215
Employed seniors: 6,805
Percent of senior population who are employed: 29.3%
2
Salt Lake City, Utah
Total senior population: 22,529
Employed seniors: 6,239
Percent of senior population who are employed: 27.7%
3
Plano, Texas
Total senior population: 41,479
Employed seniors: 11,454
Percent of senior population who are employed: 27.6%
4
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Total senior population: 34,756
Employed seniors: 9,149
Percent of senior population who are employed: 26.3%
5
Irvine, California
Total senior population: 29,095
Employed seniors: 7,649
Percent of senior population who are employed: 26.3%
6
Lexington, Kentucky
Total senior population: 48,782
Employed seniors: 12,301
Percent of senior population who are employed: 25.2%
7
Nashville, Tennessee
Total senior population: 90,849
Employed seniors: 22,719
Percent of senior population who are employed: 25.0%
8
Austin, Texas
Total senior population: 105,467
Employed seniors: 26,276
Percent of senior population who are employed: 24.9%
9
Hollywood, Florida
Total senior population: 31,526
Employed seniors: 7,814
Percent of senior population who are employed: 24.8%
10
Washington, District of Columbia
Total senior population: 87,354
Employed seniors: 21,106
Percent of senior population who are employed: 24.2%
Nationwide increase in employed seniors
Seniors opting to work past retirement age is a trend that has continued to grow throughout the last several years. With remote work opportunities and longer life expectancy, millions of seniors have decided to continue working into their golden years.
In 2010, roughly 6.1 million seniors were employed nationwide, which was 15.3% of the senior population. Today, that number has spiked to more than 10.6 million, according to the Census Bureau.
Year-over-year, the number of working seniors has increased by more than half a million (596,055), but no other city in the country has seen a larger increase than Clarksville, Tennessee, according to our analysis. From 2021 to 2022, the percentage of employed seniors in Clarksville has increased by 69.7%.
Ontario, California, ranks close behind at 67.9%, followed by Durham, North Carolina (50.6%), Rancho Cucamonga (50.3%), and Irving, Texas (48.5%).
In terms of cities with the largest decrease in working seniors, Tallahassee, Florida, tops the list. Overall, the number of employed seniors in Tallahassee has been cut in half (51.5%) year-over-year.
Whether you’re thinking about “unretiring” and returning to the workforce, or working past retirement age, there are a few factors to consider when working as a senior.
Even though most Americans can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, benefits will increase the longer you continue to work, according to the Social Security Administration.
Also, consider whether you want to work full-time or part-time. According to a recent survey by T. Rowe Price, roughly 1 in 5 retirees are working either full time or part time. For those looking to increase their retirement savings, working full time might be a better option.
If you’re looking to work part-time, consider freelancing, a side hustle or starting an LLC. All these options can provide flexibility, freedom to choose your schedule, and an extra financial cushion.
Methodology
To determine our ranking, we examined the percentage of seniors aged 65 and over who were actively employed within the last 12 months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022, which is the most recent data available as of June 2024. Our analysis included data from 170 of the nation’s most populous cities. Specifically, we looked at the total senior population aged 65 and over as well as the number of seniors aged 65 and over who have worked within the last 12 months.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social Security Administration, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2021, 2022
Fair Use: Feel free to use this data and research with proper attribution linking to this study.
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