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Older Workers Staying On The Job Much Longer

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The American work force is getting grayer.

As WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports, baby boomers are staying on the job much longer by their sheer numbers, because they're in better shape than previous generations, and due to the recent economic downturn.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports

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For many boomers, full retirement age has been raised to 66, but many are staying in the workplace even beyond that.

The U.S. Department of Labor says in 2010, for the first time since 1948, Americans 65 and older outnumbered those under the age of 20.

Chicago Kent College law professor Howard Eglit, who specializes in legal issues facing older workers, says there's still plenty of age discrimination.

"Overall, the notion is older workers are not your best bet and that's just wrong. It's wrong," Eglit said. "They bring experience, knowledge to the job that younger workers cannot bring to the job."

Figures show that older workers who lose their jobs have a much tougher time finding work than their younger colleagues.

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