Labor force participation rate of workers 65 and over, 1948-2007 Percent Year Total, 65 and older 1948 27.0 1949 27.3 1950 26.7 1951 25.8 1952 24.8 1953 24.8 1954 23.9 1955 24.1 1956 24.3 1957 22.9 1958 21.8 1959 21.1 1960 20.8 1961 20.1 1962 19.1 1963 17.9 1964 18.0 1965 17.8 1966 17.2 1967 17.2 1968 17.2 1969 17.3 1970 17.0 1971 16.2 1972 15.6 1973 14.6 1974 14.0 1975 13.7 1976 13.1 1977 13.0 1978 13.3 1979 13.1 1980 12.5 1981 12.2 1982 11.9 1983 11.7 1984 11.1 1985 10.8 1986 10.9 1987 11.1 1988 11.5 1989 11.8 1990 11.8 1991 11.5 1992 11.5 1993 11.2 1994 12.4 1995 12.1 1996 12.1 1997 12.2 1998 11.9 1999 12.3 2000 12.9 2001 13.0 2002 13.2 2003 14.0 2004 14.4 2005 15.1 2006 15.4 2007 16.0