Implications for an Aging Workforce

America's workforce is aging, with over 20% of the workforce expected to be aged 55 and over by the year 2015, an increase of nearly 50% through 2014. As people age, their resistance to harmful exposures is reduced. Injury data suggest that although elderly workers are less likely to be hurt seriously enough to lose worktime, they often take twice the time needed to return to work. Very little is known about physiological changes and how these changes affect individual performance, productivity, and safety. This article highlights some of these changes and offers suggestions to employers and academic institutions to support employees as they adapt and cope with these changes.