During the "Great Retirement" that has manifested since the COVID-19 pandemic began, women are more likely to be retired than their male peers, according to data from the Institute for Economic Equity published Jan. 4.
As of October 2021, there were 7 percent more retirees in the U.S. than in January 2020, representing 3.3 million people. The increase in retirees lay mostly in those older than 65, especially those ages 65-74.
Women were more likely to be retired than their male counterparts, around 11 percent more likely for those in the 65-74 age group and 5 percent more likely in people 75 and older, according to the data.
Married people were also more likely to be retired than their unmarried counterparts.
A large share of the older women who retired worked in trade, retail, leisure and hospitality, an author of the study told Fortune, as they possibly were worried about COVID-19 exposure.
Black, Hispanic and Native American workers were also less likely to be retired compared with white workers of similar age.