People want to work until they are 66, but many leave earlier

OSLO.Narvesen kiosk.Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB scanpix

Workers say they would prefer to retire when they are 66.1 years of age. One in four said they would prefer to work until they are 72 years old. In reality, people on average are 63.1 years old when they withdraw from the labour market.

On average, people want to work four years longer now than they did ten years ago, shows the annual senior barometer.

‘That is a very good figure, and a high average. The challenge is that people are retiring much earlier than they want. Much would actually have been achieved if we could have worked as long as we say we want to’, said Director Kari Østerud at the Centre for Seniors Policy (SSP) to news agency NTB.

The economic benefit of continuing one year extra working life corresponds, according to SSP, to about 30,000 employees, and 30 billion in increased value creation.

‘The goal of pension reform five years ago was to get people staying in work longer. We need greater effort if we are to achieve this goal, people working longer, and for as long as they want’, says Østerud.

Most satisfied

‘Norwegian Seniors Policy Barometer 2016’ was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of SSP to examine attitudes to seniors’ political issues in the workplace.

‘In general, the numbers are stable. For some time, we have seen this positive development in which people want to work longer, but it seems to be stagnating a little’, said Østerud.

The responses from workers of over 60 years of age shows that they are in better health than previously, they feel to a greater degree than other workers that they have mastered their work, and look forward more to going to work than others.

This is reflected in the attitudes of both managers and workers. As many as eight out of ten believe that those over 60 have at least as good work performance as those less than 60 years old.

Kari Østerud points out that this is not as surprising.

‘Those who stay in the job after having reached the age of 60, do so because they are motivated, they thrive and possess ‘in-demand’ skills. But more even than this, they are still able to work, and they enjoy it’ she said.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today