Richard F. Hokenson (www.hokenson.biz) reports that Americans are still retiring.  Despite the dramatic declines in the 401K's of retirees, almost 500,000 men and women over 65 left the work force in 2008 according to Mr. Hokenson in his recent article Americans are Still Retiring. He concludes that retirement patterns have not changed significantly over the last 15 years, rather they reflect a persistent and steady increase in the number of people over 65 in the work force.

This pattern began in the "go-go" years of the 1990 rather than in response to the dramatically diminished retirement resources resulting from the recent economic reversals.  There has been an increase in work force participation among all age groups over 65 and among both sexes since 1990.  Mr. Hokenson argues that some retirees want to continue working even though the cost of retirement is not an issue.

The changing nature of work from manual and physical labor mean that fewer people wear out by 65.  In addition, the growing evidence that "use it or lose it" encourages people to continue working rather than embracing a sedentary  life which may lead to loss of both physical and mental abilities.

    Mr. Hokenson also attributes the increase in labor force participation rates among those over 65 to the changing marital patterns, with an increase in single households due to an increasing number of never-married people, the growing divorce rate and the death of a spouse.