Research: Over 70s working statistics

Startling new research from ONS, commissioned by Rest Less (the group promoting work and volunteering opportunities for the over 50s), has revealed that the number of people working in their 70s has doubled in the last decade.

The research finds the number of septuagenarians in employment peaked at 497,946 in the first quarter of this year – an increase of 286,000 or 135% since 2009.

The rise means nearly 1 in 12 (8.1%) of those in their 70s are now working, a significant increase from the 1 in 22 (4.5%) that were 10 years ago.

However, the data also finds worrying reasons why this is the case;

• Many are actively looking to top up their pension savings
• One in every six people (or nearly two million) of pensioner age are now living in poverty

The research also found the number of women aged 70+ and still working has also more than doubled in a decade. Today, there are 175,000 women in the age group working, compared with only 76,000 in 2019 – a 131% increase. Woman have historically had the smallest pension pots due to taking time out to have children.