The Aging of the US Population and Its Impact on Computer Use

All of the findings presented so far have focused on current working-age adults and computer users who range from 18 to 64 years old. In this section, the findings of the survey are expanded to the entire US population and population trends are considered. Existing data about the rapidly aging US population, the increasing average age of computer users, and the rising occurrence of difficulties and impairments in the population are also presented.

US Population Is Aging

Figure 8 presents data from an existing study (Monthly Labor Review, 20005) that found that the average age of the US population is increasing, beginning in 1990 and rising until 2020. In 1990, 40% of the US population was younger than 35 years old; by 2010, only a third will be younger than 35. In 2010, the majority of the US population will be 45 years and older, a change that represents a major turning point for the US population demographic.

This increase will change the profile of the US labor force. With more people being 45 years and older, combined with a growing tendency toward delayed retirement, the labor force will shift toward older workers. This shift will occur slowly, but steadily, over the next several years. By 2020, one in five workers will be 55 years and older. This represents a more than 50% increase over 2000, in which 13% of the labor force was made up of the 55-and-older age group6. The aging labor force is likely to mean greater pressure from businesses to help keep their aging employees as productive as possible throughout their careers.

Figure 8: Aging US Population

Figure 8 includes a bar chart showing percent of people who are in different age ranges in the US in the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. The bar chart shows increase in the older age groups (over age 45) in 2010 and 2020 which portrays the aging of the US population during these four decades. Additional data for this figure is in the text of the report directly before this figure appears on the page.

Average Age of Computer Users Is Rising

Figure 9 presents data that shows the rising average age of computer users. People who range from 55 to 64 years old are 44% more likely to use a computer than those who range from 65 to 74. While some of this may be explained by retirement, most of it is driven by a generational divide in computer use. People who range from 55 to 64 years old today currently use computers in the workplace at a higher rate than people in their 60s and 70s did at earlier ages. As current 55- to 64-year-olds mature into their 60s and 70s, they will continue to use computers. Therefore, in 10 years, there will be 2.5 times as many adults who range from 65 to 74 years old using computers as there are today. This growth comes from two areas: the greater use of computers by older individuals (the generational wave of computer use) and the increased total number of people in each group (population dynamics).

Figure 9: Generational Wave of Computer Adoption

Figure 9 shows the percentage of people who use computers who are in the age ranges 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-64, 65-74, and over 75. The bar chart shows that computer adoption is growing among those of older ages. Additional data for this figure is in the text of the report directly before this figure appears on the page.

Difficulties and Impairments Increase with Age

Figure 10 presents data that shows that most of the increase in severe difficulties and impairments occurs among people in their 60s and early 70s. More than a third of people in the United States are 65 years and older and have severe difficulties and impairments. In fact, those who range from 65 to 74 years old are just as likely to have a severe difficulty or impairment as individuals who are 65 years and older.

Aging brings about the need for accessible technology in two ways. First, as people age, existing mild difficulties and impairments can become more severe. Second, people are likely to develop new difficulties and impairments as they age. In a population in which the age profile is shifting rapidly toward those most likely to have difficulties and impairments, the total number of people with difficulties and impairments will increase.

Figure 10: Difficulties and Impairments Increase with Age

Figure 10 is a show chart that shows the percentages of mild and severe difficulties among adults age 18 and older in the following age ranges: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-64, and over 65. The chart shows an increase severe difficulties and impairments, and a decrease in mild difficulties and impairments, for each age range. Additional data for this figure is in the text of the report directly before this figure appears on the page.

The combined effect of Figures 8, 9, and 10 underscores the importance for the IT industry to understand the wide range of difficulties and impairments that people have today. The need for accessible technology is great now and will intensify over the next decade.

Next page: Summary

5 Mitra Toossi, "A century of change: the US labor force, 1950-2050" (table 4), Monthly Labor Review, May 2000.

6 Toosi, 2002, page 15

(A Research Report Commissioned by Microsoft Corporation and Conducted by Forrester Research, Inc., in 2003)


Study Contents
  1. Overview
  2. Identifying Who Is Likely to Benefit
  3. Findings About Working-Age Adults
  4. Findings About Computer Users
  5. The Aging US Population and Impact On Computer Use
  6. Summary
  7. Appendix