“Hope is not a strategy.” I’m reminded of this saying when reading the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey, recently released by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).
The report shows that many pre-retirees want to work longer as a retirement strategy. For example, nearly three in four workers (74%) indicate a desire to work in their retirement years, and age 65 is the median expected retirement age reported by current workers.
There can be many good reasons pre-retirees might want to work longer and even work during their retirement years, starting with the additional income to help supplement Social Security and their other retirement income. Other reasons include obtaining affordable health insurance, allowing your retirement resources to grow before retiring, using your skills and experience to help people, and enjoying social interactions.
Unfortunately, the experience of retirees reveals challenges with these desires. Less than one in three retirees (31%) reported they had worked or were working in their retirement years, and their median age at retirement was age 62. Nearly half of the retirees reported they had retired earlier than planned, often due to reasons out of their control. The most common reasons cited for retiring early were health challenges, disability, and changes in the workplace.
Clearly there’s a disconnect between pre-retirees’ expectations and retirees’ experience. As a result, it’s clear that working longer just won’t happen without some planning and creativity. Like much in life, the devil is in the details. Let’s look at some steps you can take to make a working-longer strategy work.
Many Ways To Work Longer
If you’re interested in extending your working years, learn about the different ways you might be able to do that, starting with working full time or part time for your current employer. Many employers value good workers and might want you to continue working, if you only ask. The advantages to this option can include familiarity with the job requirements, continuing participation in your current retirement and medical benefits, and staying in touch with work friends you may have known for many years.
You can also look for part- or full-time work in your field with a new employer, branch out to a new field, find work in a hobby that you enjoy, or find project or gig work. Another possibility is volunteering for a cause you believe in that could evolve into paid work.
Many seniors start their own business, often providing a service that doesn’t require a large financial investment. According to one report, 51% of small businesses are started when the owners are age 55 or older. Possibilities include consulting, tutoring, senior caregiving, e-commerce, light gardening and housework, pet sitting or walking, and providing a backup for employers to fill in when their workers go on leave or vacation.
In my case, I embarked on an encore career, starting my own business that applies my skills and experience in a new direction. Owning my own service business has several benefits: I can set my own pace, I’m my own boss, and I can pick and choose when and how much I work.
Be Realistic
Based on my experience as an age 70+ worker, you may find that you need to set your ego aside and be willing to accept lower pay or reduced prestige or responsibilities. You might need to report to people who are a decade or more younger than you. Any of these situations might be uncomfortable, but if you want to continue working and can overcome any initial discomfort, you’ll likely settle into the new situation.
You might also need to be realistic about how long you can work in your retirement years. Many people in their late 60s and beyond can incur health conditions that limit their ability to work. For example, according to the EBRI study, almost half of retirees (46%) fear a health event that can limit their ability to work, a not unreasonable fear.
It can also be a mistake for retirees to count on income from working to pay for their must-have living expenses. For example, my wife and I had neighbors who continued to work in their late 70s and 80s and counted on that income for their daily living expenses. Eventually they were no longer able to find work and also weren’t as energetic as they used to be. When they could no longer earn money by working, they were in a financial jam.
Do Your Homework
As you approach your retirement years, you might consider networking in your current position to look for opportunities for continued work. Ask vendors, suppliers, or customers if they have job openings for experienced workers.
You can also identify employers who purposely seek older workers. For example, the AARP Employer Alliance offers resources to seniors who are looking for work and identifies employers who seek and accommodate older workers. You can find a wealth of information with an online search.
As you can see, wanting to work longer or work in your retirement years is just a hope until you convert that desire into a realistic strategy with a little hard work and creativity. But if you succeed, it can be well worth the effort.
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