Best Places to Un-Retire

The life cycle of the American worker is changing. Once upon a time, men and women retired when their hair turned salt and pepper; now most must wait until their hair is white… or gone.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, 93% of the growth in the American labor market from now until 2016 will be from workers 55 and older, and with good reason. As we’ve written about before, new estimates show the average retired couple may need more than $300,000 in savings to live comfortably and pay off late-life health care costs.

Already, anecdotal evidence suggests that many retired Americans have already been forced to return to the workforce, largely because of the economic downturn. And one study estimates that as many as 9.5 million retired Americans are considering doing so, at least part-time.

Yet, despite all their years of experience, many older workers and retirees face a tougher hiring process than their more youthful peers, who may be eager to work for less and better able to learn new skills.  So how should you go about getting a job?

For starters, if you are currently retired, you may have to move out of state. As Newsweek reports, popular retirement destinations like Florida and California are experiencing high unemployment, which makes them a tough job market in general and especially for the over-55 set. Instead, consider states like Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. They may not be the ideal places to spend your golden years, but you’re going there to work, not loaf around.