The January/February 2017 issue of AARP Bulletin (a publication for people ages 50 and older) contains an article titled, “10 Jobs Retirees Should Check Out”. The jobs described are fairly realistic and include tax return preparer, ride-hailing driver, and dog walker/pet sitter. A sidebar with the heading “Where the jobs are. The percentage of positions occupied by workers age 55+ in these growing fields” is quite astonishing. Among the fields listed is “museum technicians and conservators” (35%). While the reason why such a large percentage of the conservation work force is older than 55 may be because conservators love their work and don’t want to retire, or it may be because conservators do not make enough money to retire. But it definitely isn’t because a lot of middle aged and older people are entering the field.
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Many museum conversation scientists are retired industry chemists/materials scientists that are looking for something interesting to do in their retirement. I wonder if they’re included in that calculation.