The skies above the White House may threaten storms on Sunday as a UFC event marks President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday – but the man himself is far from the only octogenarian still clocking in. Trump becomes the second oldest US leader, behind Joe Biden who left office at 82, and among the oldest world leaders, according to Pew Research Center data. Yet across America, a growing number of people are working well past the typical retirement age of 67.
Arthur Rose, a 95-year-old internist from Michigan, stepped into his office for the last time in February after more than 65 years of practising medicine. His retirement was a birthday gift to himself, partly inspired by his brother who died at 95 during the Covid pandemic. “The job was really not pleasing me anymore,” he said. “I just wasn’t getting that same kind of exhilaration.”
“As Donald Trump turns 80, Americans like 95-year-old doctor Arthur Rose and 93-year-old lawyer Harriet Newman Cohen show no signs of slowing down.”
At 93, Harriet Newman Cohen still goes to court as a matrimonial lawyer and has just written a memoir. She has represented celebrities including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “Working has kept me young, vigorous, energetic, knowledgeable, fun,” she said. “I just can’t imagine living any other way.”
The trend is striking: the percentage of Americans 65 and older in the workforce has quadrupled since the mid-1980s, with about 19% holding a job, Pew found. This year, 24 members of Congress were older than 80, including Senator Chuck Grassley, the oldest at 92. Experts point to several factors: more people have access to healthcare, the rising cost of living pushes some back into work, and a change in attitude about age.
Gordon Lithgow, a professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, said: “I hope that people are beginning to think, it’s really who’s qualified for the job, it’s not what age they are. There’s no question that people can function well into their 70s and potentially their 80s as well.” A recent survey by Indeed Flex found nearly 30% of retirees are considering part-time or temporary work, with over 60% citing the rising cost of living, but about half also wanting more social interaction.
As Trump celebrates his 80th, the storm clouds over the UFC event may be a temporary worry – but for many Americans, working into their 80s and beyond is a choice that keeps them engaged, not a burden.