The American workforce could be getting older.

A new study by the Pew Research Center found that the number of Americans 55 and older looking for work rose by 40 percent this year.

At the same time, the number of 16 to 24-year-old job seekers declined by nine percent in the last decade.

The study says young people are deciding to stay in school, while older people are finding it more difficult to retire.

It cites longer life spans and the bad economy as the reasons.

If the trends continue, older workers are expected to make up 25 percent of the U.S. labor force by 2016.