Many older workers have physically demanding jobs: Share of workers with physical demands at work by age, 2018

Age Prime-age workers (35–49) Older workers (50–70)
Any physical demand 55.5% 50.3%
Carrying or moving heavy loads 43.3% 36.1%
Lifting or moving people 21.5% 15.6%
Tiring or painful positions 44.1% 36.9%

Note: Workers were asked whether their main paid job involved carrying or moving heavy loads, lifting or moving people, or working in tiring or painful positions a quarter of the time or more.

Source: Author’s analysis of 2018 American Working Conditions Survey microdata (RAND Corporation 2018).

View the underlying data on epi.org.