[caligo]

For what is worth I have observed this phenomenon first hand. I am a college student and I work part time as a sales clerk at a store. I would say at least 20% of the staff consists of retirees. They are usually professionals who either worked for the government or a larger corporation. Everyone who I've gotten to know has some savings and doesn't strictly need to work, but doesn't have enough savings to live comfortably.

What is more interesting is that another 15% to 20% of my colleagues at this store are in their late forties to mid fifties. For various reasons they each decided to abandon their careers (found out they didn't believe in what they were doing, or decided to take time off to look after their kids and could never get back into the industry, etc...)

It is a bit of a specialized store so I am sure it is not the same distribution as in a Target or a Walmart. However it is also worth mentioning that aside from one or two people (who I am not sure about), everyone else has at least a bachelors degree or is in the process of getting one. There are maybe 15 college students out of a staff of about 60.