BLOOMINGTON - At age 70, John McDermott was simply tired of being retired.

When he saw a newspaper job advertisement, he decided to start a new career. The director of business development for Busey Banking Center in Bloomington has worked in his "new job" full time for seven years and has no intention of retiring - again.

"I'll stay as long as they want me," said McDermott.

That may be a long time. He won the Associate of the Quarter Award in March last year "in recognition of exceptional performance and innovative contributions to Busey Bank" according to the award certificate.

This Labor Day, he is among a number of older workers choosing to continue to work. For some, the paycheck is a big factor, but for others, like McDermott, the joy of working and the contact with people are the primary reasons to work past the traditional retirement age.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population 65 and older will increase from about 1 in 8 people to 1 in 5 people by 2030, and older workers are expected to compose an increasingly larger proportion of the workforce.

Being back in the workforce, certainly agrees with McDermott.

"It's rewarding and sometimes you develop new friendships that way," said McDermott, whose job involves calling potential customers, listening to their needs and devising a solution his bank can provide.

When he initially retired after 34 years as a sales director for a radio station, he occupied himself with golf and chores like painting the house. The father of nine also spent time with his wife, Kathleen, and his family - which now includes 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

But one day, about seven years into retirement, he saw a job advertisement for a service representative for First Federal Savings and Loan, which later became Busey Banking Centers. It piqued his curiosity.

"I called on Monday, we had lunch on Tuesday. I started to work on Wednesday," he said.

He had skills in selling to commercial customers that filled a niche for the bank. Previous job experience is part of the reason some companies are more than willing to hire older workers.

"A guy like McDermott is so motivated …, it's hard (for him) to unwind," said Doug Roesch, senior vice president of commercial lending for Busey Bank. "He brings enthusiasm, his experience, and love for the game."

Similarly, Diane Ryon, owner of an accounting and an investment firm in Bloomington, likes what older workers bring to the job. She has nine employees over age 60; the oldest is 75.

She affectionately calls them her "geriatric squad."

They answer phones, talk to clients and help copy materials for the Heartland Community College financial courses she teaches.

Ryon's list of her older workers' attributes is long: they are helpful, have a good work ethic, are extremely reliable, get along well with younger workers, and many already have benefits or other income.

"There's no question I'd recommend older workers," said the 60-year-old Ryon.

At DJR Tax Service and American Capitol Equities, most of the employees Ryon hires are part time and work 10 to 20 hours a week.

Ryon's husband, Roger, jokes that his wife will never retire. "You have entirely too much fun doing what you are doing," the retired State Farm Insurance Cos. employee told her.

So do some of her employees. "I just wasn't ready to retire," said Jan Brooks, who retired from Nestle Beich at age 65.

Now, 70, Brooks said she doesn't expect to retire again.

"I feel great. I'll keep on keeping on."

So will Wilma Netter, a bailiff for the McLean County Sheriff's office.

She retired from State Farm at age 64, but soon found herself in a job again.

Netter has been a bailiff for 12 years, working five to 10 days a month with juries, and as an intermediary between the juries and the judge.

It isn't the kind of job that someone who needs the income would choose, but it's a job for anyone who likes to meet all kinds of people, she said.

"This is a people job," said Netter.

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Labor Day festivities

10 a.m. - Labor Day parade. Steps off at Center and Madison streets, the heads west on Front Street to Lee Street, south on Lee to Wood Street, and west on Wood to Miller Park, Bloomington.

Noon to 9 p.m. - Family fun day, Miller Park Bandstand, Bloomington. HIV/AIDS awareness benefit with daylong entertainment is sponsored by Let's Talk About It, Let's Do It Community Outreach. Headliner: R&B singer Thomas Cook, 8:30 p.m.

4 p.m. - Free jazz concert, Franklin Park, Bloomington. Hosted by Bloomington Parks & Recreation.