Aging Populations (or Age Discrimination?)

The markets are closed for Good Friday and so I thought I'd reflect on this most somber of days on a somber issue as posted today on Barry Ritholtz's Big Picture blog.  The graphic below illustrates the changing population, specifically how the prime working age group of 25-54 has shrunk over the last decade.  As you can see, the 54+ group has shrunk throughout most of the country except in the southeast sunshine states and the southwest, which are also very popular sunshine states.  But is the working age population really shrinking or are the 50+ set merely being forced into early retirement and are thus out by 54 and migrate to where it's warm to spend their senior years?  Is this really shrink-wrap or is it age discrimination?  I suspect the latter.