Clackamas County’s Aging Workforce Follows National Trends
July 06, 2026Older people make up a growing share of the American population. The portion of the older population in the United States, 55 and older, was at 28.5% in 2004 and reached 37.6% by 2024. By the year 2034, the 55+ population is expected to grow to 39.1%, adding 9.9 million people to the 55 and older population.
Older workers also represent an increasing share of the U.S. workforce. The portion of the nation’s 55+ population who are active in the labor force has grown from 15.6% in 2004 to 23.1% in 2024 and is expected to stay steady at 23.6% by 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are several reasons why a major labor market shift is being seen with older Americans working longer and more likely to be employed today than a generation ago, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Possible Reasons for Older Americans Working Longer:
- Longer life expectancy
- Financial pressure in delaying retirement
- Increases to the age for receiving full Social Security benefits
- Improved educational attainment
- The need to maintain health insurance coverage
- Many people are moving into part-time, consulting, or contract work instead of fully retiring.
Labor Force Participation Rate for Older Workers is Expected to Grow
Another way to measure the labor force is by looking at the labor force participation rate (LFPR). The LFPR is the percentage of the civilian working-age population that is either employed or actively looking for work. The LFPR has increased for all older-worker age groups, 55 years or older, since 2004 and is expected to continue in the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest LFPR is for the 55 to 64 age group which is expected to reach 68.6% by 2034. The next highest LFPR is for the 65 to 74 age group which are expected to reach a 29.6% LFPR by 2034. Lastly, the 75 year and older group is also expected to increase its LFPR to 10.2% by 2034. For context, the overall U.S. labor force participation rate for all people age 16 and older was 62.4% in 2025.
Similar to the nation, Clackamas County’s 55 and older population is expected to grow at a relatively high rate of growth according to the Portland State University, Population Research Center. The county’s 55+ population is projected to grow by 61,475 older residents in the next 30 years reaching a population of 207,285 and making up two-fifths (40.3%) of the population by 2054.
The number and share of the 55 and older workers in Clackamas County’s workforce are also showing a growth trend. Industry employment for these workers increased by 10,422 workers or by 29% from 2015-2025 and the share of these older workers grew from 23.1% in 2015 to 25.5% in 2025.
When comparing age-group distributions of workers during the last decade, older workers were shown to have the highest rate of growth. From 2015-2025, the number of younger (14-24) workers increased the least by 7.2%, adding 1,371 workers while the number of working age (25-54) workers increased by 13.7%, adding 13,904 workers. The highest level of employment growth was seen with the older (55+) age workers, which increased by 28.8%, adding 10,422 workers during the last five years.
In the average first three-quarters of 2025, about one-fourth (25.5%) of workers in all industry sectors were 55 years and over. The three industry sectors with the highest number of 55+ workers included health care & social assistance (6,749); manufacturing (5,439); and retail trade (4,889).
The industry sectors with the highest percentage of 55+ workers were the agriculture, mining, and transportation/warehousing industries which had ratios ranging from 31.2% to 56.8%. It should be mentioned that these industries had relatively lower employment levels of 55+ workers than the majority of other industries during this period.
| Age 55+ | % Age 55+ | |
|---|---|---|
| All Industry Sectors | 46,564 | 25.5% |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 6,749 | 24.1% |
| Manufacturing | 5,439 | 29.8% |
| Retail Trade | 4,889 | 24.1% |
| Construction | 3,682 | 24.1% |
| Professional, Scientific & Professional Services | 3,126 | 24.6% |
| Wholesale Trade | 3,045 | 26.8% |
| Admin and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,708 | 25.0% |
| Accomodation & Food Services | 2,658 | 19.0% |
| Other Services | 2,041 | 28.3% |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 1,595 | 36.6% |
| Finance & Insurance | 1,534 | 27.6% |
| Public Administration | 1,260 | 24.2% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 1,208 | 31.2% |
| Management of Companies & Enterprises | 820 | 25.4% |
| Real Estate, Rental & Leasing | 801 | 29.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | 607 | 21.4% |
| Private Educational Services | 545 | 22.8% |
| Information | 497 | 18.6% |
| Utilities | 92 | 26.6% |
| Mining | 25 | 56.8% |
Major Labor Market Shift
The broad picture is that America is getting older, and the labor market is adapting. A major labor market shift is being seen in America: older Americans are working longer and are more likely to be employed today than they were a generation ago. Older workers are also retiring later, and in some cases returning to work after retirement.
For some older workers, working longer reflects better health, longer life expectancy, and a need to stay connected. For others, it reflects economic necessity and concerns about whether retirement savings will last. Both forces are shaping workplaces, retirement systems, and career opportunities across generations.
Clackamas County’s older population and workforce is showing similar trends to the nation with its 50+ population expected to make up two-fifths of its population by 2054 which will contribute to the 55+ workforce growing as well.