Census releases new figures on aging Hawai‘i workforce

The U.S. Census Bureau in November released new statistics about older workers in Hawai‘i, based on data collected in 2004 show. Not surprisingly, they show that this group is growing as a proportion of the state’s labor force.

“Changes in the size and composition of age groups may affect government program and policy choices and the options available to businesses,” the new report notes. “National projections indicate that the population 65 and older will increase from about 1 in 8 people to 1 in 5 people by 2030, so that older workers will likely compose an increasingly larger proportion of each state’s workforce.”

The Bureau warns that industries that employ large numbers of workers born during the Baby Boom of 1946 to 1964 may see them remain employed beyond traditional retirement ages. “That is important information for firms planning for the eventual loss of experienced workers and the payout of pensions,” the report said.

Click here to download a copy of “The Geographic Distribution and Characteristics of Older Workers in Hawaii: 2004 – Local Employment Dynamics.”