Income from work after retirement in the EU
EU social and employment policies increasingly emphasise extending working life and increasing effective retirement age. Over the past few years, it has become more common for Europeans to work beyond the age at which they are entitled to a statutory or occupational pension.
The employment rate among 65- to 69-year-olds increased from 8.8% in 2005 to 10.5% in 2011 – a remarkable development, especially in a time of economic crisis. In this European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, a special Eurobarometer reported that one-third of people wanted to continue working beyond the pension age, with 6 out of 10 thinking that people should be able to do so.
This study investigates retirees’ motivations to take up paid work and how they relate to income adequacy. It explores who these working retirees are, characterises the work they are doing and concludes with lessons for policymakers and employers. Evidence comes from literature, analyses of EU databases and seven country studies.