Attitudes of the over 50s to fuller working lives – new poll

These new results of a YouGov poll of over 50s explores older people’s attitudes to later life working and retirement. The research explores the attitudes of those who are currently employed, self-employed, and unemployed to later life working and retirement. It also explores the attitudes and reflections of those who are currently retired to the circumstances surrounding retirement and later life working. Results featured as part of the BBCs recent focus on our ageing society.

Key results include:

Over half (56 per cent) of respondents not currently retired said that they had changed their mind over the last few years about the time when they expected to retire. Nearly half (49 per cent) thought they would now retire later than before; rising to 56 per cent among women compared with 43 per cent of men. Only 7 per cent said they thought they would retire earlier than before.

Thirty nine per cent of respondents not currently retired said that working part time or flexible hours before stopping work altogether would be the best way to retire. Seventeen per cent preferred a less demanding job before retiring altogether, while the same proportion said working full time and then stopping work altogether would be the best way to retire.

Fifteen per cent of respondents not currently retired and under 60 years old would like to stop work altogether and retire between the ages of 60 and 65 while 74 per cent would like to be in work still (either full time or part time). Forty per cent of those not currently retired and under 65 years old would like to be retired between the ages of 65 and 70, while 48 per cent would like to still be in work either full time or part time.