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4. SECURITY GUARD PORTION OF PART-TIME WORKERS OVER AGE 55: 28 percent MEDIAN HOURLY PAY: $12.38 In many cases, the pandemic added new responsibilities to the roles security guards play. For
example, many security guards are now responsible for checking employees’ temperatures before letting them in to work. And at some stores, security guards are the ones who keep an eye on
whether everyone is wearing a mask. While those two particular duties might diminish in 2021 as more people get vaccinated, applicants for security guard positions should still expect some
variety in their work. In addition to responding to emergencies in the workplace and preventing shoplifting or vandalism, some security guards may be required to write reports, handle public
relations or administer first aid. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PORTION OF PART-TIME WORKERS OVER AGE 55: 22 percent MEDIAN HOURLY PAY: $14.77 This field already was contracting before the
pandemic, with demand for these workers projected to drop by 20 percent by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But one area where opportunities are on the rise in
this field is in freelance and contract positions through the gig economy. The flexibility those roles offer could be a good fit for many older adults. You can learn more about such
opportunities by visiting AARP Foundation's Work for Yourself@50+ Freelancing Resource Center. 6. PARALEGAL PORTION OF PART-TIME WORKERS OVER AGE 55: 20 percent MEDIAN HOURLY PAY:
$17.48 The pandemic is transforming this occupation, as law offices and government agencies turned to “virtual or V-paralegals” — remote employees who help get all of the important paperwork
done while teleworking. The position is becoming so essential that more states are passing laws that give V-paralegals authority to do some things remotely that previously had to be done in
person, such as notarizing documents. Prior to the pandemic, BLS projected that the demand for paralegals would grow by 12 percent by 2028. That need may actually rise over the next couple
of years, as experts say the economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic could lead to increases in bankruptcies, mortgage foreclosures, medical malpractice suits, and social
justice lawsuits, among other proceedings. 7. DENTAL HYGIENIST PORTION OF PART-TIME WORKERS OVER AGE 55: 17 percent MEDIAN HOURLY PAY: $35.42 Slightly more than half of all dental
hygienists—52 percent—said they were not working last May, according to one trade association. Many dental offices were temporarily shut down during the early months of the pandemic. And
when they reopened, hygienists were concerned about how well their offices’ personal protective equipment (PPE) could shield them from becoming infected and about how much additional time
they would need to spend sterilizing equipment and treatment spaces. Many dental offices already have reopened, with heightened safety practices to deter the spread of COVID-19. And the need
for dental hygienists — an occupation that was growing in demand before the pandemic — should quickly pick up as more people are vaccinated.