Almost 7 out of 10 American workers report
that they plan to have a working retirement, working full- or part-time
for pay past normal retirement age—and a full 12 percent say they
believe they’ll never be able to retire. Another 14 percent say they
want to work as volunteers in their golden years, and just 13 percent
report plans to stop working entirely. These are the results of a new
nationwide study conducted by the Heidrick Center for Workforce
Development at Rutgers University.
According to the survey directors, “The traditional notion of
retirement, where one stops working completely and enjoys leisure time
with friends and family, is obsolete.” What’s more, “Workers in 2005
feel less confident than they did in 2000 that they will be financially
able to leave the workforce ahead of traditional retirement age.”
The study also found that workers are suspicious that employers
favor younger workers over older workers in the workplace. Moreover, 4
in 10 workers disagree that Social Security and Medicare will still be
available when they retire; only 20 percent strongly believe that both
programs will be a source of support when needed.