Persistent Workforce Among Pensioners: Countries in the European Union with High Rates of Post-Retirement Employment
Revised Article:
Working 'Til the (Old-)End: Pensioners Across EU Totally Slaying the Hustle 👵💼🤔
Ever wondered what old-timers in Europe are up to when they hit that golden age? Turns out, some of them are putting in more hours than the average Joe!
European attitudes towards retirement can be quite varied. In some parts, a retired life is a dream come true. In others, it's just the beginning of a new chapter. And in certain nations, retirees still clock in more hours than the average employee!
You might be flabbergasted to hear that! But, hey, we're living in the age of the ageless, right? 😅
According to Eurostat data, around 40% of retirees across the EU are still hustling, whether as entrepreneurs or employees. The majority of these workaholics are self-employed (56%), with a smaller, yet still substantial, proportion employed by others (24%).
Estonia and Iceland are the EU countries with the highest percentage of working retirees. These Nordic powerhouses have a knack for making things happen, even in their golden years. 🇪🇪🇮🇸
Hardest Working Retired Bosses: Europe Edition 🇪🇺💼
If you thought the Swedes were all about fika (coffee breaks), think again! Nearly all retired Swedish entrepreneurs (98.4%) can't seem to get enough of that work-life balance. The Finns and the Irish aren't far behind, with close to 90% of their retired entrepreneurs still going strong! 🇫🇮🇮🇪
On the flip side, Spain and Greece seem to have a different approach to retirement. Enjoy the sun, sand, and sangria, these guys say! Only one in five entrepreneurs continues to work in these countries (18% in Spain and 20% in Greece).
Bulgarians, Greeks, and Cypriots: The 'Never Retire' Gang 🇨🇾🇬🇷🇧🇬
In some European countries, employed pensioners may work as many hours as common workers! Shocking, right? Here's the breakdown: 38.5 hours per week in Greece, 35.8 hours in Lithuania, and 35.7 hours in sunny Cyprus. 🌞🇬🇷🇱🇹🇨🇾
Interestingly, most pensioners who continue to work prefer part-time arrangements (57%). But hey, every cash-strapped retiree has their own story, and no one can blame them for putting in a little extra effort to keep the bills paid!
Managers and skilled agriculture, forestry, and fishery workers have the highest rates of continuing to work post-retirement (40.1% each). Salesmen and technicians aren't far behind, with 32.2% and 30.3% of these workers remaining active, respectively. 💼👷♂️👩💼🤝
As for the top five countries with the highest percentage of pensioners still grinding it out, recent data is thin on the ground. However, it's no secret that the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) lead the pack when it comes to labor force participation among older adults. Western European countries like the Netherlands and Germany also have a substantial proportion of working pensioners, alongside the United Kingdom and Ireland. 🇬🇷🇱🇹🇫🇮🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪
So there you have it, folks! Retirement ain't what it used to be, and these Europeans are proving that it's never too late (or too old) to keep hustling! 💪😀👵💼🇪🇺
References:
- Retirees working past retirement age: Eurostat data reveals the average across the European Union
- URL: https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/17/retirees-working-past-retirement-age-eurostat-data-reveals-the-average-across-the-european-union
- Accessed on: 2025-06-18
- Largest growing jobs in the next five years, according to employers
- URL: https://www.jobsdb.com/sg/news/largest-growing-jobs-in-the-next-five-years-according-to-employers
- Accessed on: 2025-06-18
- High-tech jobs: These regions are hiring the most women in the EU
- URL: https://www.eu-startups.com/2023/01/high-tech-jobs-regions-hiring-most-women-eu/
- Accessed on: 2025-06-18
- 'High-stress, low reward': Why Gen-Zers are shunning middle management jobs
- URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreényi/2024/04/01/high-stress-low-reward-why-gen-zers-are-shunning-middle-management-jobs/
- Accessed on: 2025-06-18
In light of the increasing number of retirees working past their retirement age, the EU is witnessing a rise in the number of self-employed and employed retirees, painting a picture of the 'hardest working retired bosses' (business). Meanwhile, some European countries, such as Greece, Cyprus, and Lithuania, have pensioners working as many hours as common workers, signifying a shift in the traditional perception of lifestyle in their golden years (lifestyle).
