15 Flexible Jobs for Older Workers – AARP
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Among workers age 50 and older, 76 percent say a job that offers flexibility is the best way to achieve work-life balance, according to one recent survey. The good news is there are many employers that offer opportunities for flexible work arrangements and welcome midcareer workers.
After conducting the previously mentioned survey of older adults, FlexJobs looked at the job postings on its website to find offerings from employers that are committed to hiring people age 50 and older, according to the non-profit Age-Friendly Institute. (Many of these businesses also participate in AARP’s Employer Pledge Program.) The analysis found there are a wide range of jobs available for older adults who want to use their years of work experience to create more freedom in their schedules.
The following is a list of flexible jobs available with companies that have been recognized by either the Age-Friendly Institute or AARP’s Employer Pledge Program for their commitment to older workers. Clicking on the job title will take to you to current postings on AARP’s Job Board. Median pay is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 10 million job openings in the United States. One reason why more of these positions haven’t been filled is because many companies are looking for human resources (HR) experts who can help them find good workers for their other openings. By taking a contract position as a senior recruiter, you can earn money while helping other people get hired.
Many companies are so eager to hire now that they are offering financial bonuses to new hires. For example, the health insurance company Aetna is willing to offer new customer service representatives in one of its Delaware offices $1,000 for signing on plus an additional $2,000 for staying at least 90 days after completing training.
This job, which often can be done remotely, involves helping businesses manage their billing processes. Typical job duties include processing invoices, receiving and depositing customer payments, and updating and maintaining monthly billing processes.
If you have experience helping businesses manage and analyze the data they collect from their customers, a position doing freelance work as a data analyst could be a good fit for you. A typical job responsibility for this position is moving records and information from one computer system or program into another, all while making sure that each piece of data remains accurate.
Working as a home loan specialist is a popular option for older workers because not only are the hours flexible, but also in many cases the work can be done remotely. The job mostly involves reviewing mortgage applications to help the bank determine whether to offer the person a loan.
Billing representative jobs are a specific type of customer service representative position in which the work focuses on payments and other financial matters. While these jobs don’t typically require a college degree, previous experience doing this type of work is important.
For example, to qualify for billing representative job with CVS, applicants are asked to have at least one year of experience working with health care reimbursement systems.
As a payroll specialist, your job will involve processing records to make sure that employee wages are paid timely and accurately every cycle. The work requires attention to detail to accurately keep track of things such as time and attendance, base pay, overtime, incentive pay and taxes, as well as any wage garnishments.
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While long-term demand for these types of workers is declining, there still is a need for administrative assistants who can help keep offices running smoothly. Job duties typically include providing administrative support to high-level executives, scheduling meetings and helping to compile reports.
If you have good typing skills, work as a data entry clerk might be a good fit for you. The job generally involves transcribing information from documents and other files into a computer system. Banking, insurance, manufacturing and supply-chain logistics are some of the industries that frequently employ data entry clerks.
These workers perform several tasks to help lawyers serve their clients. Typical job responsibilities include conducting legal research, organizing documents and files, and writing reports. Paralegal is one of the occupations with strong career prospects in the years ahead. Demand for their services is projected to grow at a rate of 12 percent by 2028, according to the BLS.
Product managers are responsible for helping businesses launch new products and improve the products and services they already offer. The work requires good organization skills and the ability to work well with teams from different departments. Most candidates for these jobs have at least a bachelor’s degree plus five years of work experience in similar roles.
Financial analysts help businesses make decisions about how they can invest their money to build profits. While a college degree in finance, accounting or business generally is preferred for these jobs, successful work experience often is enough to qualify. Job responsibilities often include analyzing financial data, working with the accountants to ensure that financial reports are accurate, and evaluating how investments perform compared to plans and forecasts.
Childcare continues to be one of the most in-demand professions in the nation, with job opportunities projected to grow by 18 percent this decade. The field also tends to offer personal fulfillment as you help young children begin to learn about the world. However, these jobs occasionally can be physically demanding.
Human resources specialists help recruit, screen and interview job applicants to help determine which ones might match well with a company’s job openings. Additional job responsibilities could include handling compensation and benefits, planning training programs, and helping employees work better together.
Companies from health care to financial services need salespeople to help them connect with potential customers. Previous sales experience is important for landing these positions, and—if you’re qualified—you might even be able to lead a team of sales agents.
Kenneth Terrell covers employment, age discrimination, work and jobs, careers, and the federal government for AARP. He previously worked for the Education Writers Association and U.S. News & World Report, where he reported on government and politics, business, education, science and technology, and lifestyle news.
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