ABSTRACT
The aging of the baby-boom cohort coupled with changes in retirement policies, programs, and behavior and increased concerns about dwindling resources to support retirement incomes-all contribute to a renewed interest in the topic of aging and work. In the year 2002 there were about 61 million people aged 55+ in the U.S. and their numbers are expected to grow to 103 million representing 30% of the population (U.S. General Accounting Office, 2003). This change in the population demographics will have a significant impact on the composition of the labor force. By 2010 the number of workers aged 55+ will be about 26 million, a 46% increase since 2000, and by 2025 this number will increase to approximately 33 million. There will also be an increase in the number of workers over the age of 65 (Fullerton & Toossi, 2001; U.S. General Accounting Office, 2003). Although labor force participation rates are projected to be slightly greater for older women than older men in contrast to previous decades the labor force participation rates for older males is also increasing.
