4 Reasons People Are Retiring at an Older Age in 2025

More and more seniors are working longer than ever before. Whereas once upon a time, reaching retirement age was a clearly defined milestone and number, now the idea of retirement is evolving. More people are extending their working years beyond the typical 60 to 65 years old. 

While for some people it’s a choice, for others they have no say in the matter. If they want to pay their bills, then they’re going to have to keep working for the time being. Here are some of the most common reasons why people are delaying retirement in 2025.

Rising Prices

One of the most commonly shared reasons why people still work beyond 65 is because they simply can’t afford not to. Prices are on the rise, from housing costs to groceries. As such, people find themselves struggling to make ends meet, and living off of their Social Security or retirement funds isn’t enough to get by. 

Whereas once upon a time, their nest egg would have been enough to thrive in another economy, nowadays, it’s hardly enough to support them. More seniors than ever are struggling to maintain their standard of living, prompting them to continue to work well beyond their retirement years. 

While some people see this as a burden, others seem to be less bothered. They find that getting out and going to a job every day helps them have a sense of accomplishment and contribution to society.

Longer Life Spans

People are living longer, and in many cases much healthier than they did even just a few decades ago. Longer life expectancy means a longer retirement, which means much more savings and planning to do. However, in order to avoid outliving their savings, many are choosing to work longer in order to be able to cover their anticipated retirement years. Delaying retirement requires these people to save a little more and reduce the number of years they’ll need to rely on the savings they have.

Delayed Careers

Some people choose to get into their careers later in life. Perhaps they made a career change in the middle of their lives, or maybe their education took longer than expected. Whatever the reason is, the later you start your career, the fewer years you have to contribute to your retirement plans. Many people are playing catch-up, and as such, they need to stay in the workforce longer to meet their retirement savings goals.

Personal Fulfillment

On the flip side, you have people that genuinely love what they do, and they don’t see themselves ever stopping. Many people work until their last dying day simply because they can’t see their life without whatever their chosen job was. For many people, retirement isn’t about stopping working, but rather redefining what work means. Finding a passion project that still generates income is more and more popular amongst retired adults.