Record numbers working beyond retirement age, says report

A record number of people are working beyond traditional retirement ages following a "surge" in self-employment, according to a report.

The abolition of the so-called default retirement age has also led to workers staying on, said pension firm Royal London.

The report said it was unclear how far the trend was being driven by people wanting to stay in work, or whether they did not have enough pension savings.

Royal London policy director Steve Webb, a former pensions minister, said: "Where people enjoy their work and want to carry on past traditional retirement ages, this is a very welcome trend. Older self-employed workers in particular may enjoy the greater flexibility which self-employment brings, allowing them to continue to be economically active but without tying themselves in to set hours.

"But some of this growth in older working will be amongst those who work because they have to rather than because they want to.

"As relatively generous final salary pensions become increasingly rare, more people are now reaching pension age dependent on relatively modest pension pots to fund a long retirement."

Baroness Ros Altmann, minister for pensions, said: "There are huge benefits to working longer including keeping active, boosting your financial prospects and improving your quality of later life.

"Indeed not only is working longer good for your sense of self-worth, it can also boost the economy.

"Older workers have hugely valuable skills and experience and it is great news that more of us are living longer, healthier lives. We should not write ourselves off too soon."