The number of middle-aged job seekers in the United States who have found full-time employment has gone up, with more than 48% of those between the ages of 50 and 64 finding jobs, according to a new survey from Gallup.
That’s an increase of about 2.5% over last year. For those between the ages of 30 and 49, 61.4% had full-time employment in June 2013, a rate that stayed the same as in June 2012 but was an increase from June 2011, when the number was 60.7%.
According to the Gallup report, these number indicates that companies are willing to hire older, more experienced workers and that a smaller number of older workers are retiring.
“This has likely increased the percentage of older Americans with jobs, as companies may be placing a greater value on their experience and productivity and as older workers decide to continue to work when give the opportunity to do so,” the report stated.
Even as the jobs picture has picked up for older workers, according to the report, it has gone down for those who are adults between the ages of 18 and 29. The report found that 43.6% of those between 18 and 29 worked full-time in June 2013, compared to 47% in June 2012.
The report found a wide gap, however, between those who hold a college degree and those who do not. According to the report, 65.4% of those between the ages of 18 and 29 who have a college degree have found full-time employment. Among those in the same age group without a degree, only 38.6% have a full-time job.
“The difference likely reflects the benefits of a college education in today’s job market,” the report stated.
However, the report stated that the numbers show a decline in the overall number of college-educated younger people with full-time jobs.
Noting that having a full-time job is the “foundation of the American middle class,” the Gallup researchers wrote that without a growing number of jobs, more and more families will not have the financial security to support families, achieve home ownership or advance in the workplace to higher-paying jobs.
The report also noted that many Americans choose to be self-employed, so they do not show up in the numbers. However, the job numbers over the past several years indicate that “the availability of full-time jobs has barely been able to keep up with overall population growth.”
Given this scenario, a college education could provide a younger person with a leg-up on their job-seeking peers, according to the report.
The report is based on Gallup’s monthly survey of about 30,000 Americans.
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