Even with overall unemployment numbers reaching their lowest point in the past 32 months, Americans over 50 are still struggling with devastated savings and tough job prospects.

Citizens reaching retirement age, many of whom have put in more than 50 years of work, are finding they cannot sit back and enjoy their golden years.

Around 57 per cent of Americans older than 50 are less confident than before the recession that they will have enough money to retire, and nearly a quarter of that population has lost all of their savings in the crisis.

Meanwhile, the number of over-50 Americans still working has doubled in past 20 years.

Al Jazeera's Scott Heidler reports from New York City.