How technology is unlocking value for older workers
Empowering people to remain productively employed as they get older can support healthy aging and bring big benefits to employers and society.
Increasing lifespans could well mean that many people have little choice but to keep working for longer to fund their retirements. At the same time, others who don’t need the money may choose to keep working past the typical retirement age of 65 simply because doing so brings them fulfillment.
Evidence suggests that having meaningful work to do — particularly rewarding work and performed on a flexible or part-time basis — can improve older people’s wellbeing. But older workers will need to improve their digital literacy in order to remain employable at a time when technology is disrupting virtually all industries.
“The important thing, of course, is choice,” said Rick Robinson, Vice President of the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP, a US nonprofit devoted to empowering people to choose how they live as they age. “If that choice includes working well into their later years then we believe they should surely have that option. For some it’s not a choice, as they must work to support themselves, so we want to do what we can to assure opportunities are available to all.”
Older people are generally not early adopters of new technology (see Figure 1), but they catch up quickly. For instance, according to a survey by AARP, use of generative AI among Americans over the age of 50 jumped from 9% in 2023 to 18% in 2024, and could be on track to double again in 2025, said Robinson. Use by younger adults rose more modestly between 2023 and 2024, from 29% to 33%.
Digital literacy is crucial
Seniors have various motivations for learning to use digital tools, such as staying in touch with family, performing essential tasks, and accessing entertainment, said Lawrence Kosick, Co-Founder and President, GetSetUp, an online learning platform providing interactive virtual learning for older people. But a big reason is also making sure they’re not left behind at work.
“You need a basic level of proficiency in using your smartphone, laptop, basic software services like the Google or Microsoft suites, and now AI, if you want to have a decent life or enter the workforce,” said Kosick.
More broadly, research suggests that continuing to learn is vital to keeping people’s cognitive skills sharp as they age.
Rajiv Ahuja, Executive Director of the On Aging Institute at the American Society on Aging, emphasized the value of continued engagement for older adults. “Some older adults may begin to experience declines in cognition and mental health after leaving the traditional workforce. But that trajectory isn’t inevitable — especially if we create opportunities for continued purpose.”
Ahuja added that communities should support flexible options that meet older adults where they are. “Some may want to scale back hours or shift into different types of roles. Others could provide mentorship, foster intergenerational connections, or take on leadership positions that allow them to guide and oversee projects. These pathways don’t just tap into their expertise — they also support mental well-being and reduce the risk of isolation.”
Building a legacy
One natural advantage that older people can bring is their longer experience of life and work, which can make them excellent mentors.
“Providing mentorship isn’t just about sharing knowledge; it’s a deeply meaningful way to pursue longevity,” said Ahuja. “Real longevity can be thought of as your ability to make a lasting impact on the next generation that solidifies your legacy much longer than a 100- or even 150-year life.”
Older people can also mentor and teach each other. GetSetUp, for example, decided early on that it would recruit older adults as instructors to provide lesson content to their peers. According to Kosick, the firm only realized later how crucial this decision would be. “As we get older, myself included, we become a little more hesitant to learn things, particularly tech,” he said. “When you have somebody who looks like you and sounds like you, has a similar sort of patience, empathy, cadence, and vocabulary, you then relax and let down your guard. You're not afraid to ask what you might perceive to be a stupid question, and you can really get comfortable to learn and gain confidence.”
According to Ahuja, what’s also critical to supporting older adults in staying connected, independent, and engaged is rethinking the design of cities, particularly with a view to improving access to essential services and social opportunities.
“In the US, traditional zoning laws often separate where people live from where they work, shop, or gather. This limits walkability and creates silos that make it harder to age well in the community,” said Ahuja. “But that’s beginning to change. We’re seeing momentum around mixed-use zoning — where homes, businesses, and community spaces are integrated. That kind of design allows older adults to live, participate, and thrive within the same neighborhoods.”
A tremendous resource
Given that many countries are faced with shrinking talent pools, older workers could prove indispensable to keeping economies growing. “Nations that overlook the value of older workers do so at their peril,” argued Robinson.
A growing focus of the burgeoning AgeTech sector is finding solutions to help keep older workers productive. These range from robotics and exoskeletons to reduce the physical demands of manual jobs, to digital upskilling platforms and artificial intelligence co-pilots to lessen cognitive demands.
But it would be a mistake to automatically assume that older workers are less productive than their younger counterparts and in need of a leg-up, said Robinson. “In many cases older adults have learned shortcuts in the workplace that allow them to jump from A to C even without the help of technology. And tools such as free generative AI platforms could make them, as with anyone, more creative and productive.”
Robinson encourages older people to get acquainted with artificial intelligence by “taking something like ChatGPT and just start asking it to research or accomplish some tasks you’d normally have to do yourself. Then take those responses, check the facts and tune them to your own voice. This kind of experimentation will eat up time in the short run but make one much more efficient in the long run.”
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