Are Older Workers More Productive?

Older workers make more productive employees than their younger counterparts. A new study from the Brookings Institute says older workers are more productive because they make more money.

The study looked at productivity in workers between the ages of 60 and 74 and compared them to those aged 25 to 59. Males in the older group earned 22% more, while women in the older group made 10% more. The findings come from economist Gary Burtless, and economists tend to equate productivity with wages (which is questionable).

The problem with this study is clear -- older workers are likely to make more money simply because they have been in a job for a longer period of time. This usually means they have already been through many performance reviews, promotions and pay raises. However, there are a few reasons why these older workers may in fact be more productive.

Thanks to the digital age, younger workers are always in the pursuit of instant gratification – which can cause them to ignore work for long-term projects while focusing on the tasks that give them a sense of accomplishment. Younger generations also seem to be more distracted. With the Internet and portable devices, there are more distractions than ever. Many just can't help but send a Twitter update, check their Facebook news feeds or watch a few adorable animal videos during the work day.

To help you get more productive, try protecting your power hours, get enough exercise, or follow the 2-minute rule.