Resume Now Survey: 90% of Older Workers Upskilling to Keep Careers Alive

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Table of contents

Key Findings
Older, Smarter, and Still Adapting
Ready to Work if Conditions Improve
Deep Career Commitment

As the workforce evolves, older professionals are not falling behind. They are doubling down. A new Resume Now survey of nearly 900 Americans over age 50 reveals that 90% have pursued job training in the past two years, and more than half (51%) have paid for it themselves.

Despite facing age-related bias, many older workers remain deeply engaged and committed to staying relevant. But the pressure to keep up with technology is constant, and many upskilling older workers say access to flexible, remote, or hybrid roles would help them stay in the workforce longer.

Key Findings

Older workers are actively investing in themselves. 90% have taken training in the past two years to stay current at work, with over half (51%) paying for it out of pocket.
Technology pressure is constant. 59% feel they must continually keep up with new tools and digital skills to stay relevant.
Flexibility could extend careers. 56% say flexible hours and 49% say remote or hybrid work would encourage them to stay in the workforce longer.
Physical demands are a barrier. 30% want less physically demanding roles to continue working.
Work still matters deeply. 91% say their work is meaningful, and 89% tie their career closely to their identity.

Older, Smarter, and Still Adapting

The idea that older workers resist change no longer holds up. In today's fast-moving job market, upskilling older workers are doing everything they can to keep up, especially with new technologies. Most are taking training into their own hands, as the survey findings show:

Infographic depicting how older workers are investing in their careers.

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90% have pursued training in the past two years to stay current at work.
51% paid for this training themselves.
39% said the training was employer-paid.

What this means: Older professionals are not waiting for permission or support. They are making proactive choices to stay competitive, even if it means paying out of pocket. For employees over 50, adaptability is not just a skill. It is a strategy for staying employed and thriving.

Ready to Work if Conditions Improve

Many older workers are not planning to retire anytime soon. But they are asking for the kinds of policies that would make work more manageable and meaningful. When asked what would encourage them to stay in the workforce longer, their answers were clear:

56% want flexible work hours.
49% say remote or hybrid options would help.
30% want less physically demanding roles.

What this means: Older workers are not opting out of the workforce. They are asking for modern, sustainable conditions that reflect their needs. Flexibility, remote work, and reduced physical strain are not perks. For many, they are the key to staying employed longer and contributing at a high level.

Deep Career Commitment

For many older professionals, work is more than just a paycheck. It is a source of pride, purpose, and personal identity. Most say their careers still matter to them in a deep and lasting way:

91% say their work is still meaningful.
89% say their career is part of their identity.

What this means: Older workers are not coasting through their final years on the job. They remain highly invested in their roles and their career values. Recognizing this commitment is essential for employers who want to build inclusive workplaces that value experience, motivation, and long-term engagement.

Looking for a change of scenery? Resume Now's AI Resume Builder can help you land a new role by creating or updating your resume to meet the standards of the competitive job market.

Methodology

The findings provided were gathered through a survey conducted with 878 American workers over the age of 50 on July 20, 2025. Participants were asked about their experiences with age discrimination, relationships with younger colleagues, perceptions of workplace value, and attitudes toward career identity and fulfillment. Participants responded to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers. Of the 878 respondents, 188 identified as female and 688 as male. In terms of age, 599 were between the ages of 50 and 59, 271 were between 60 and 69, 5 were between 70 and 79, and 1 was 80 or older.

About Resume Now

Resume Now is a powerful resource dedicated to helping job-seekers achieve their potential. Resume Now's AI Resume Builder is a cutting-edge tool that makes creating a resume fast, easy, and painless. Resume Now has been dedicated to serving job seekers since 2005. Alongside its powerful AI Resume Builder and stylish ready-to-use templates, it also features free advice for job seekers at every career stage, guides for every step of the hiring process, and free resources for writing cover letters. Resume Now is committed to supporting job seekers and workers alike and has conducted numerous surveys related to the experience, trends, and culture of the workplace. These surveys have been featured in Business Insider, CNBC, Fast Company, Yahoo!, Forbes, and more. Keep up with Resume Now on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Pinterest.

For press inquiries, contact Joseph Santaella at joseph@resume-now.com.

Keith is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and trusted media source in the career industry with over a decade of experience helping job seekers stand out.