Un-Old, Anybody?
Planning to retire? Have you considered going back to work instead?
This story is dedicated to anybody who has ever been told that they’re “still young”. Or that they’re “not that old”.
Or that age is just a number, or that they’re only as old as they feel (ha!).
I still remember the long-ago Summer in which I first got sunburnt on the top of my head — but that’s another story.
This story is about “unretirement”. It’s based on a media release I’ve just received (I’m still young enough to receive media releases!) from a “global talent solutions provider” (cor!) by the name of Robert Walters (it’s a company).
Robert Walters has put out a survey. Actually, it’s interesting. Findings as follows.
More than three-quarters of the employers in the survey (77%) said that they think retirees returning to work is a good thing. A third (36%) of businesses feel that such “unretirees” are crucial to filling skills gaps.
Almost half of the unretirees surveyed (46%) came out of retirement for financial reasons, while 24% (almost a quarter if we’re still doing this brackets thing) went back to work for reasons of “social wellbeing”.
Yes, and 70% of UK professionals (seven in any multi-generational group of ten, that’s the point) believe that they will need to delay their retirement.
[Or retire early (this is me talking, not the survey) and then unretire? Just a thought.]
The new research, says the release, “showcases an emerging trend of ‘unretirement’ — which shows no signs of abating”.
And if I remember my long-ago journalistic training, the follow-up question to that has to be — Why not?
Chris Eldridge, CEO of Robert Walters UK, tells me: “The trend toward unretirement is driven by two factors; high living costs impacting pension savings, and hybrid-working arrangements allowing professionals to work for longer in a more flexible capacity.”
Left-field question now — Should I update my CV?
[Come to think of it, LinkedIn already categorises my retirement as a “Career Break”.]
“The fact is,” Eldridge says, “current flexible work practices and ongoing skills-shortages will be an ideal playground for anyone considering a form of ‘unretiring.’”
Which is a yes, I think?
“Welcoming this cohort back could unlock benefits like intergenerational knowledge transfer, diverse perspectives, and filling critical skill gaps…”
I can do that!
“…it also helps un-retirees gain financial stability, social interaction, and mental stimulation, promoting a healthier over-60s demographic.”
Yes! When do I start?
