# New York's older workers are staying on the job

> Baby boomers delaying retirement to afford living costs are reshaping New York's labor market and driving healthcare hiring.
- Title: New York's older workers are staying on the job · Fortune
- Summary: Baby boomers delaying retirement to afford living costs are reshaping New York's labor market and driving healthcare hiring.
- Keywords: new york, aging workforce, baby boomers, employment growth, healthcare sector, retirement, labor shortage, kathy hochul, Fortune
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/11/09/new-york-graying-workforce-residents-over-65-holding-onto-jobs-longer-driving-healthcare-to-be-fastest-growing-sectors
- Author: Emma Burleigh
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: new york, aging workforce, baby boomers, employment growth, healthcare sector, retirement, labor shortage, kathy hochul
## New York's job market is stalling
A report from Gov.Kathy Hochul's office shows total statewide employment will grow only zero point two percent in twenty twenty-six and zero point three percent in twenty twenty-seven, after rising one percent the year before.
## The state's population is graying fast
Nineteen point three percent of New York's population is sixty-five and older, up from fifteen percent a decade ago. This aging population is intensifying demand for social and healthcare services.
## Older workers are staying employed longer
A twenty twenty-two study from New York's Office of Budget Policy and Analysis found that residents aged sixty-five and up were the only group showing significant labor growth over ten years.
## Healthcare is now the fastest-growing sector
Demographic shifts are driving demand for healthcare and social assistance, making this the fastest-growing sector in the labor market. Job growth in leisure, hospitality, manufacturing and construction is expected to remain weak.

> Demographic shifts are driving demand for health care and social assistance, making this the fastest growing sector in the labor market.
## Working past sixty-five has quadrupled
The number of people working past sixty-five has quadrupled in the U.S.since the nineteen eighties, according to twenty twenty-three analysis from Pew Research Center, with around a fifth of the older generation holding down jobs.
## Retirement savings fears drive longer work
Over two in five retired Americans worry their funds won't support their ideal retirement lifestyle.
## The retirement gap is widening
BlackRock surveyed U.S.voters on comfortable retirement needs and found the average response was two point one million dollars.
## Key takeaway

New York's aging population is staying in the workforce longer, limiting job growth to zero point two percent in twenty twenty-six and making healthcare the fastest-growing sector.