Part-Time Remote Jobs: Make Money in Your 50s and 60s

The work revolution is good news if you’re in your 50s and 60s and part of the “unretirement uprising” – one of the many people who retired during Covid but is going back to work.

Historically, options for part-time jobs were fairly limited. Even a decade ago, part-time remote jobs were few and far between, particularly if you wanted a good salary. That’s not the case any more. There are a whole range of part-time job opportunities waiting for you – here’s how to take advantage of them.

The Rapidly Changing World of Remote Work

The pandemic was responsible for a substantial increase in remote work, but the popularity of remote and hybrid (roles with a combination of remote and on-site) working was already growing before then.

Between January and December 2019, around 12% of the UK workforce had worked at least one day from home in the previous week. This increased during the pandemic and, while numbers have gradually decreased since restrictions were lifted, the number of people doing remote or hybrid jobs is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Now, around 22% of the UK’s workforce work remotely at least one day a week, and around 13% work from home exclusively.

It’s no surprise that the other major work trend is flexibility. Flexible working can encompass everything from where you work (e.g. remotely, hybrid or on-site) to the hours you work (e.g. flexible start and end times and job sharing). It goes hand in hand with remote work, where people often want to balance jobs around responsibilities at home.

Finding Part-Time Remote Jobs in Your 50s and 60s

So, how do these changes impact you? The good news is that it should be easier than ever to find a part-time remote job that fits around your schedule, particularly if your background is in management or professional services which have the highest levels of home working.

If you’ve got caring responsibilities, don’t let that be a barrier to your dream job. Many jobs will now offer flexible hours by default and, if they don’t, you can always ask about your options during the interview.

The Advantages of Remote Working for Over-50s

If you’re still debating whether a part-time remote job is right for you, there are lots of advantages that are specific for the over-50s. Here are the three biggest benefits:

1. Work From Anywhere in the World

One of the best things about being a midlifer is that it usually affords you a certain amount of freedom. You’ve done the hard work raising kids and striving to reach the next level of your career – it’s time to start reaping the rewards of that hard work.

For many people, travel is top of the agenda. Whether it’s a short city break in France or two weeks in the Maldives, today’s part-time remote jobs don't have to get in the way of your travel plans.

Of course, make sure you book hotels in advance that have fast Wi-Fi. If you book online using a site like Booking.com, you can check whether Wi-Fi is included and read reviews from previous guests to see how reliable it is.

It’s also a good idea to stick to relatively populated places if you’re going to be working – save any rainforest treks in Borneo for the weekend! Even the most reliable Wi-Fi occasionally fails, so ensure there’s a cafe, restaurant or library nearby as a backup and that you have somewhere sensible to make any calls.

2. Spend Time in a Second Home

Lucky enough to have a second home, but wish you made it over there more often? With a part-time remote job, you can say goodbye to flustered Friday evening drives for the sake of a long weekend.

With a remote job, you can spend weeks – or even months – working comfortably from your second property. Part-time hours mean you’ll have plenty of time to get out in the local area on weekdays when it’s quieter too.

Enjoy a stroll on the beach in the morning, a few hours of work in the afternoon, then fish and chips on the harbour. What’s not to love?

3. Care for Grandchildren or Loved Ones

It’s common to have some form of caring responsibilities in your 50s or 60s. It could involve picking your grandchildren up from school while their parents are at work, or looking after them for a day a week. Alternatively, you might be a carer for your elderly parents or have a loved one who needs regular support from you.

In these cases, flexibility is key. Things can crop up suddenly, from doctor’s appointments to inset days at school, so being able to shift your commitments around is vital.

A part-time remote job should let you do just that. Working fewer hours a week gives you more time to spend on personal commitments, while the remote nature allows you to work from other houses, trains or waiting rooms if you need to.

Part-Time Remote Jobs for 50 and 60 Year-Olds

Ready to take the leap into your next opportunity? We’ve compiled a list of some of the best part-time remote jobs if you’re in your 50s and 60s.

Become a Consultant

Consulting is an ideal part-time remote job, especially if your expertise is in science, technology or business. You might have worked in a senior role at a large corporation, or been involved in bringing a new type of technology to market.

As a consultant, you’ll provide professional advice or guidance to businesses. It could be on a specific project, or you might be asked to help with the business’s overall strategic direction.

Consulting is a particularly attractive job because it’s flexible and, if you’ve got sought-after knowledge or experience, it can be very highly paid.

It’s worth reaching out to consulting firms in your area of expertise – even if they don’t have a publicly listed job opening, many firms will snap up specialists. However, if you’d prefer to embark on a solo career, make sure you’ve built up a strong LinkedIn profile. It’s one of the best places to start reaching out to high-level clients who might be interested in your services.

Provide Administrative Support

A remote administrative assistant is also known as a virtual assistant. It’s the perfect remote part-time job if you’re organised and have a great eye for detail.

Your duties as an administrative assistant will depend on the business you work for. However, many jobs include organising schedules, making telephone calls, updating and maintaining records, and preparing presentations or reports. Some will also include marketing duties like writing blog posts or updating stakeholders on company news.

The great news is that administrative work can usually be done from anywhere, providing you’ve got a phone signal and a strong Wi-Fi connection. That means it’s ideal if you’re keen for a remote job that can fit around travel plans or be done from your second home. Salaries also tend to be generous, particularly if you’re working for a larger or more established company.

Part-time hours may be less flexible than other roles, since you may need to sit in on meetings (remotely, of course) and be on hand to make calls in standard work hours. That said, if flexibility is important to you, it’s always something you can negotiate at the start of the contract.

Use Your Art Skills as a Graphic Designer

Do you have design experience? Are you comfortable with digital design tools like Adobe InDesign or Photoshop (or happy to do some training)? If so, graphic design could be a lucrative part-time remote job.

As a graphic designer, you’ll help businesses to create artwork for a range of materials. This could include branding, magazine layouts, brochures and publicity materials. It’s a fantastic opportunity to use your creativity and learn new skills.

Becoming a graphic designer won’t root you to one spot either – you should be able to work from anywhere in the world, providing you’ve got a high-performance laptop and a good internet connection.

Become a Writer or Editor

If you’re a talented wordsmith, becoming an editor, proofreader or writer is a fulfilling way to follow your passion. These jobs are almost always remote and you can often work flexible hours (providing you hit your deadlines!), so it’s an attractive option if you want to travel at the same time.

As an editor, you’ll be responsible for revising other people’s writing. If you work for a publishing company, this might include offering suggestions on plot or tone. Alternatively, if you’re working for a media company, this can include checking for typos, verifying sources and helping to write eye-catching headlines.

If you’d prefer your job to revolve around writing instead, your options are almost endless. There’s a huge number of part-time remote jobs that involve writing, from article writing to ghostwriting and technical writing. Don’t panic if you aren’t sure where your skills are best suited – have a browse of a job board and see what catches your eye.

Worried it’s too late to start a writing career? After working in the advertising industry for most of his life, Dave Woods was 59-years-old when he co-founded an online publishing company.

Make a Difference as a Charity Fundraiser

Looking for a job with a sense of purpose? Many charities rely on older workers to support their fundraising efforts.

Becoming a charity fundraiser is a great way to meet new people, improve your wellbeing and give back to society. While non-paid volunteer roles will allow you to be more flexible in how often you contribute your time, you can earn money as a fundraising manager, volunteer manager or community outreach specialist.

Provide Tutoring for Students

Finally, private tutoring is one of the most rewarding part-time remote jobs available. You’ll get to watch your students progress with each session, and you can see first-hand the impact you can have on someone else’s life.

Most tutoring jobs will fall in afternoons, evenings or weekends (basically, around school hours), but it’s up to you exactly when you’ll work. Your part-time tutoring job could start out as five or six hours a week, then ramp up to 15 or 20 hours in exam season.

There’s a wide range of areas that you can specialise in too, from subjects in the standard school curriculum to music and languages. Think carefully about where your passion and expertise lies, and go from there.