Older Workers by State, Industry
The six states with the highest percentage of people age 50 and older in 2006 were:
- Maine (43.7%)
- West Virginia (43.3%)
- Vermont (42.7%)
- Montana (42.2%)
- Florida (42.0%)
- Pennsylvania (41.9%)
There can be significant variation in the age composition of workforces by industry sector. For example, workers age 50 and older comprise only 10.8% of the workforce in the food services and drinking industry (nationally) but 41.2% of the agriculture industry (nationally). Industry sectors with workforces where employees age 50 and older comprise 35% or more of that industry sector include:
- Membership associations (43.7%)
- Agriculture (41.2%)
- Real estate (38.7%)
- Textile, apparel and leather manufacturing (37.2%)
- Forestry, logging, fishing, hunting and trapping (35.7%)
- Utilities (35.5%); equipment and appliance manufacturing (35.3%)
- Public administration (35.2%)
- Machinery manufacturing (35.0%)
Source: 21st Century Age Demographics: Opportunities for Visionary State Leadership (March 2008), Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College
