Pandemic job losses among workers 65 and older were steep and persistent: Percentage changes in employment rates from pre-pandemic peaks, by age group, February 2020–August 2022
Year | Ages 35–54 | Ages 55–64 | Age 65+ |
---|---|---|---|
Feb-2020 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Mar-2020 | -0.7% | -0.7% | -4.5% |
Apr-2020 | -11.8% | -11.8% | -18.6% |
May-2020 | -9.6% | -9.6% | -18.1% |
Jun-2020 | -6.9% | -7.7% | -14.9% |
Jul-2020 | -6.6% | -7.2% | -12.0% |
Aug-2020 | -4.9% | -5.7% | -10.6% |
Sep-2020 | -5.1% | -5.1% | -7.6% |
Oct-2020 | -4.2% | -4.0% | -6.6% |
Nov-2020 | -4.0% | -4.9% | -6.3% |
Dec-2020 | -4.3% | -5.2% | -8.8% |
Jan-2021 | -4.6% | -5.9% | -11.1% |
Feb-2021 | -4.6% | -4.2% | -12.8% |
Mar-2021 | -4.1% | -3.3% | -11.4% |
Apr-2021 | -4.2% | -3.3% | -9.9% |
May-2021 | -4.0% | -2.2% | -10.3% |
Jun-2021 | -4.1% | -3.5% | -11.8% |
Jul-2021 | -3.3% | -3.6% | -12.1% |
Aug-2021 | -2.8% | -3.1% | -8.9% |
Sep-2021 | -2.0% | -1.9% | -6.3% |
Oct-2021 | -1.8% | -2.1% | -7.0% |
Nov-2021 | -1.2% | -2.2% | -6.0% |
Dec-2021 | -1.1% | -1.9% | -5.3% |
Jan-2022 | -1.5% | -1.8% | -7.7% |
Feb-2022 | -0.9% | -1.1% | -5.9% |
Mar-2022 | -0.1% | -0.1% | -7.0% |
Apr-2022 | -0.4% | -0.4% | -7.4% |
May-2022 | -0.3% | -0.2% | -6.1% |
Jun-2022 | -1.0% | -1.5% | -7.8% |
Jul-2022 | -1.0% | -1.0% | -7.4% |
Aug-2022 | -0.3% | -1.7% | -5.8% |
Note: Chart shows percentage changes in employment-to-population ratios relative to February 2020, the peak month of economic activity before the pandemic recession.
Source: Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) analysis of Current Population Survey microdata (Flood et al. 2021).