From rock star to golf reporter, the side gigs bringing retirees back to work

By Alyssa Place, This is my expertise

Published November 29, 2023 10:47 AM EST Updated November 29, 2023 1:14 PM EST 2 Min Read

Donna F. BrownRetiree Donna Brown and her husband Gary perform in a rock band.

Making the switch from employee to retiree can be challenging, both financially and mentally. Increasingly, older Americans are turning to side gigs to keep a little money coming in and their interests peaked.

Fifty-seven percent of employees plan to work either full- or part-time into retirement age, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. A survey from Bankrate found that 21% of baby boomers aged 58-76 work a side gig, making around $500 per month.

ImageFor Colleen Gilbert, 70, a lifelong fascination with genealogy has led to a post-career side gig of tracing family trees and writing genealogy reports for up to $500 apiece, since retiring from her previous job as a bookkeeper.

“This work is incredibly rewarding, especially when I help reconnect long-lost family members,” Gilbert says. “Driven by this sense of purpose, I’m motivated to continue blending my passions with impactful actions for as long as possible.”

Alyssa Place

Editor-in-chief

Alyssa Place is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News and has been with the team since 2019. Her work covers mental health, DEI, women at work, financial wellness, retirement and workplace … Read full bio