One-in-five retired people go back to work
Howard Lake | 14 December 2002 | News
A Norwich Union survey has found that 22% of retired people over 50 have gone back to some form of employment, with 11% of them wanting to give something back to society. Over a quarter have done voluntary work, with women three times more likely than men choosing to do so.
Recruiting volunteers might still be difficult for many charities, but it would seem there should be a pool of experienced older people wishing to do socially useful work for some years to come.
Norwich Union has found that more than one in five retired people have subsequently ‘un-retired’ and gone back to some form of work. The company brackets them ‘The Un-retireds’, and defines them as people who retire and then later go back
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to full-time, part-time, voluntary or seasonal work.
As retired people get older even more choose to go back to work: 34% aged 65-74 have done so. Of those who haven’t gone back to work, 22% are considering doing so.
Reasons for returning to employment include a desire for
human interaction, keeping active and giving something back
into the community. Only 4% return to work because they need the money.
The survey found that 38% of women, and 29% of men, work part-time. Over a quarter (27 per cent) have done voluntary work, although it is three times more likely to be women.
The research, carried out in October 2002, suggests that most retired people have little difficulty finding employment: 59% who have gone back to work say they had ‘no problems’.
Women are three times more likely to miss the feeling of
daily interaction than men, driving many of them back to work.
Ian Beggs, of Norwich Union, said: “Some people find ending their working life a positive experience, particularly if they are emotionally or financially ready for it, or if they have a choice. But for others, the impact of giving up work for good is a real blow, especially if they have been forced into retirement or are financially less able.”
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.