Portrait of a worker in 1870:
A man started work at 13 and worked every day for 30 years, until the day he died at age 43. In his entire life, he never had more than 9.6 hours a day for sleep, play and work at home.
The 1950s worker:
Started work at age 17.6 and worked 50 years. He typically died a year before he could retire at age 68.5. He had about 13 hours a day for sleep, leisure and work at home.
The 1973 worker:
Started work at about 18.5 and was expected to work until 2018, when he would be about 64. He or she will actually enjoy 6.6 years of retirement and is expected to die at age 70.6. During his or her work life, he enjoyed 15.6 hours a day for sleep, leisure, and work at home.
The 2022 worker:
Started work at 20. He will work 42.5 years, with 17.5 hours a day for sleep, leisure and work at home. Men will retire at age 61.6. Women will retire at age 60.5. Men will be retired 15.9 more years and live to nearly 81. Women will live 19.3 years in retirement and die at about age 84.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.