by Derek Teed
October 2019
As the average Minnesotan continues to get older1 and the 65+ age group gets larger, it can be important to track the jobs these workers are transitioning to. Older people are working longer these days. Workers who are 65 years and older make up 4.8% of the total workforce in Minnesota in 2018, which is much higher than the 2.7% in 2003. We found that older people make up a large percentage of the workforce in certain niche industries. Table 1 shows the largest workforce participation for the 65+ age group in 2018.
| Table 1. Largest Workforce Participation Percentage Increases from 2003 to 2018 for people 65+ years old | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Digit Industry | 65+ Age Group, Workforce Percent in Each Industry 2003 | 65+ Age Group, Workforce Percent in Each Industry 2018 | Total Employment for All Ages in 2018 |
| Total, All Industries | 2.7% | 4.8% | 2,881,705 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transport | 12.5% | 21.3% | 19,890 |
| Crop Production | 7.3% | 10.7% | 7,411 |
| Building Material & Garden Supply Stores | 4.1% | 10.4% | 26,685 |
| Museums, Parks, and Historical Sites | 3.9% | 9.5% | 3,959 |
| Real Estate | 6.1% | 8.2% | 27,882 |
| Source: Minnesota Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Quarterly Employment Demographics, October 2019 | |||
The largest increase in workforce participation by industry is in Transit and Ground Passenger Transport. The largest 6-digit industries within Transit and Ground Passenger Transport are School and Employee Bus Transportation and Special Needs Transportation. Together they make up 67% of the Transit and Ground Passenger Transport Industry.
Seeing the overall employment gains for the 65+ age group from 2003 to 2018 helps us understand which industries employ the most people 65+. Table 2 shows the largest total employment gains by industry for the 65+ age group. Educational Services has the largest increase in the 65+ age group employment, but this is largely caused by the large size of the industry.
| Table 2. Largest Total Employment Increases from 2003 to 2018 for people 65+ years old | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Digit Industry | Employment Gain | Percentage Gain in Employment | Total Employment for 65+ age group in 2018 |
| Total, All Industries | 68,714 | 98.7% | 138,321 |
| Educational Services | 8,485 | 140% | 14,547 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 4,534 | 305% | 6,748 |
| Social Assistance | 4,471 | 340% | 6,336 |
| Administrative and Support Services | 2,858 | 93.5% | 5,914 |
| Hospitals | 2,303 | 209% | 4,406 |
| Source: Minnesota Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Quarterly Employment Demographics, October 2019.
Note: The total job gains were found by taking the total job gains by industry from QCEW and multiplying those job gains by the workforce percentage of the 65 year and older demographic group in QED. |
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According to QCEW, all the industries in Table 1 and 2 are industries that have below average wages, except for Hospitals and Ambulatory Health Care Services. It is unknown if the 65+ age group is working in these industries because they cannot retire yet, want something to fill time, want extra money in retirement, or any other reason.
1VerHelst, Megan. "Here's How Much Older Minnesota's Population Has Gotten." Minneapolis, MN Patch, Patch, June 21, 2019.
