This level of social organization is described as eusocial. As well as benefitting the colony, the researchers believe that this ability to change jobs may also lead to longer life spans in social insects compared to their 
BBC Animal Science — Central American leaf-cutter ants “retire” from their cutting role when they grow old, switching to carrying when their jaws blunt with age. Leaf-cutter ants start their lives with razor-like jaws, or mandibles, to cut through the leaves they harvest. But as these “wear out”, the insects tend to carry the leaves cut by their younger counterparts.
The findings suggest that individual ants can extend their useful lifespan as their skills decline. They are reported in the journal Behaviour Ecology and Sociobiology. The US-based scientists discovered that older ants were significantly less efficient at cutting leaves. They estimated these older colony members’ “worn-out teeth” halved the speed at which the entire colony was able to harvest leaves. Story here.
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So we could get more done if we lowered Social Security benefits to start at 55 years of age. These people would be taken out of the regular work force, allowing younger people to take the jobs.
Some would just retire, others might invent the next big thing in their garage and some might just want to volunteer with local organizations in their town that could use the help. I could see many more helping family take care of their children when they are at work.
We could lower unemployment and be a better country and who knows? We could spur inventors to invent our way out of the current mess.
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