This story originally appeared on SmartAsset.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted older American workers, both in its health impacts and the ability to budget and save for retirement.
Workers 65 and older have seen some of the highest recent unemployment rates. A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of April 2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the unemployment rate was highest among workers in the youngest age cohort (ages 16 to 24) — at 27.4% — and next highest among workers in the oldest age cohort (ages 65 and older) — at 15.6%.
The BLS has not yet published data on how senior employment within specific occupations has changed during COVID-19, so we looked at the most popular jobs for seniors. We ranked occupations based on the percentage of workers who were 65 and older in 2019.
Data for this report comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey. We filtered out any occupation with “other” or “miscellaneous” in the title due to lack of occupational specificity.
Following were the most popular jobs for seniors in 2019.
1. Models, demonstrators and product promoters
Seniors employed in 2019: 21,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 62,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 34%
2. Crossing guards
Seniors employed in 2019: 13,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 52,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 25%
3. Tailors, dressmakers and sewers (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 21,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 86,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 24%
3. Tax preparers (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 23,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 97,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 24%
5. Clergy
Seniors employed in 2019: 86,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 413,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 21%
6. Musicians, singers and related workers
Seniors employed in 2019: 41,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 202,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 20%
7. Bus drivers
Seniors employed in 2019: 104,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 546,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 19%
8. Psychologists
Seniors employed in 2019: 41,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 234,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 18%
9. Property, real estate and community association managers
Seniors employed in 2019: 134,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 780,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 17%
10. Lawyers (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 188,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,240,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 15%
10. Real estate brokers and sales agents (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 161,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,095,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 15%
10. Librarians (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 26,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 179,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 15%
13. Dentists (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 23,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 162,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 14%
13. Artists and related workers (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 34,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 248,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 14%
13. Chief executives (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 219,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,602,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 14%
16. Taxi drivers and chauffeurs (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 102,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 790,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 13%
16. Writers and authors (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 29,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 225,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 13%
16. Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 129,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,015,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 13%
19. Postsecondary teachers (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 172,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,386,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 12%
19. Physicians and surgeons (tie)
Seniors employed in 2019: 127,000
Total workers employed in 2019: 1,098,000
Seniors as a percentage of all workers: 12%
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