The number surprised even folks at the local chapter of the AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons. The organization changed its name to the capital letters in 1999 because it realized that most of its members still work.

In Nevada, many still want to continue working.

At the same time the AARP chapter co-sponsored the job fair on March 28, it also was talking about the results of its first-ever study on members' attitudes toward work. "AARP Nevada Survey of Members: Work and Retirement" is based on surveys of 2,000 random AARP members across the state. Fifty-six percent were in Clark County, 15 percent were in Washoe County and the rest were split among rural areas.

"I knew there was a labor shortage, which is why I went after this issue," said Deborah Moore, spokeswoman for AARP Nevada. "I felt this issue really resonated, particularly with skilled, (professional) labor. A lot of people retired early from California and moved out here. How can we capture these folks?"

Nationally, the share of the workforce over 55 years old is expected to grow to 20 percent by 2015. It was just 13 percent in 2000.

The AARP Nevada survey results seem mostly like no-brainers. The older crowd wants to work beyond retirement for the extra money, and they desire flexible hours and part-time work.

But what is interesting is how their reasons compare to others. For example, older workers may not necessarily demand a higher pay rate.

"Pay was not the No. 1 reason why most of them are getting back into the workforce," Moore said.

One question asked about the top factors that would persuade individuals to keep working after retirement. Flexible work schedules seemed the most desired reason: Sixty-two percent of respondents said they would be extremely or very likely to work if they had flexible hours.

Incentive pay followed, catching 40 percent of the responses in the extremely or very likely categories. Training opportunities, phased retirement, job sharing, professional advancement and mentoring were less likely to steer people away from kick-up-your-heels retirement.

Another question was more geared toward the reasons why people work after retirement, focusing on those who need to work. Top survey choices were that an individual needs or wants extra income (61 percent said it was a major factor), health insurance coverage (49 percent) and more money in savings (47 percent).

Forty-two percent said a major reason they stayed in their jobs was because they liked it. That beat out several more health care and retirement savings factors.

The data could best be used by workplaces trying to fill positions, Moore suggested.

Getting word out to the 50-plus crowd is easy, she said. Just advertise in local community newspapers the View and the News, which are well read among seniors, or in senior-oriented magazines like Prime View, Maturity Today or Vegas Voice.

Actually getting those workers interested in open positions may require some tweaking.

"I think there needs to be some simple changes if people want to capture an older workforce," Moore said. "There was a government agency (at the job fair) that should have really been able to hire older people. It was a perfect opportunity, but the challenge was they didn't have any part-time positions ¦ That doesn't take a lot of money. What we're talking about is a little more work on the front end to create those opportunities."

The most generous offers for seniors could include both part-time work and covered health insurance.

But even just allowing someone to work part time and be a member of the employer's insurance group - even if that worker takes on the premium usually paid by the employer - would help many.

"There's a big gap between 50 and 65," Moore said. "Especially with state government employees: They retire after 30 years, and they're done way early. They go out into the world and realize they can't get health insurance."

The work survey was part of a regular study done of AARP Nevada members every two years. The ensuing reports show what interests the organization's members, and sometimes those results lead to bills at the Legislature.

Although no bills resulted from the 2006 survey, Moore said the 2008 one might gauge support for a Social Security offset law. Currently, those drawing Social Security while earning income have their Social Security checks taxed.

"For a lot of people, the reason why they work is they don't have enough income with Social Security, so they only work a certain number of hours," Moore said.

About a dozen states have passed similar bills.

Those interested in the 2006 survey can contact Moore at (702) 938-3237.

"My feeling is that employers, first of all, are under the impression that when people have retired, they meant it," Moore said. "Other places don't know where to go to get them."

The AARP job fair brought a mix of jobseekers. It was not limited to just older workers, but at least 90 percent fit into that category.

Some were drawn to part-time telemarketing positions. Others were businesspeople looking for new jobs.

"What the survey (and job fair) told us is there are many 50-plus jobseekers who are very engaged and looking for the right opportunities," Moore said. "Businesses just need to be on the lookout because these people are out there and looking."