An increasing number of retirees worldwide are returning to the labour market. The “un-retirement” phenomenon — returning to professional activity after retiring — already affects millions of people, and its scale is growing alongside inflation, rising living costs, and insufficient pension benefits. Is working in retirement a choice or a necessity?
Data from various countries confirm the growing trend of returns to the labour market. In the United States, approximately 37 per cent of people over 55 remain professionally active, and many of them are “un-retired” individuals who tried to end their careers but could not sustain themselves on benefits alone. In Europe, the situation is similar — in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavian countries, the percentage of seniors taking up paid work after reaching retirement age is growing.
The most common reason is financial. Rising living costs — food, energy, medication, mortgages — mean that pensions are often insufficient to cover basic expenses. Benefit indexation fails to keep pace with the real increase in prices. Some seniors financially support adult children or grandchildren, which additionally burdens the household budget. However, not all returns are financially motivated — many retirees go back to work out of a need for activity, social contacts, and a sense of purpose.
Retirees returning to the labour market most commonly find employment in the service sector, retail, healthcare, and administration. Popular positions include receptionists, concierges, advisers, tutors, as well as work in catering or transport. Those with higher education find employment more easily — they can offer consultancy, advisory services, or remote work. Seniors with lower qualifications face greater difficulty, often taking on work at minimum wage rates.
Working in later life can have both positive and negative health effects. Moderate professional activity maintains mental acuity, prevents social isolation, and provides daily structure. However, excessive physical effort, stress, or the need for long commutes can worsen seniors’ health. It is crucial that work is adapted to health capabilities and does not replace the rest that retirees are entitled to.
European countries are increasingly introducing solutions to make it easier for seniors to combine retirement with work — flexible employment forms, tax breaks for working retirees, and retraining programmes. In Germany, popular “minijobs” allow extra earnings without losing benefits, the Netherlands has a well-developed part-time work system, and in Poland retirees can work without income restrictions after reaching the standard retirement age. Experts emphasise, however, that the real solution should be ensuring dignified pensions rather than forcing seniors to work out of necessity.
May 17, 2026
