Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 13 per cent of workers aged 45 years or over, or 653,800 people, never intend to retire. It is a 72 per cent increase from four years ago, when 379,300 people had no intention of retiring.

Those who do want to retire also want to stay in the workforce longer, with the average intended retirement age at 62.9 years, compared with the average age of retirees in the past five years being about 61.4 years.

Organisational psychologist Dr Darryl Cross said there were many mature-age workers who could not afford to retire but he said other reasons for staying in work were becoming more common.

“We’ve got flexibility now, the workplace is more flexible and employers are not writing off people, they are looking for experts fo”(Employers see that) the senior worker, they are not going to go anywhere, they are reliable and they know what work is about.”

Workforce planning firm Workforce Blueprint Managing Director Wendy Perry said mature -age workers just wanted to work less hours and have more flexibility to enjoy their golden years

“I’m seeing more businesses have developed policies for phased retirement, when they never had to think about it or do it in the past,” she said.

“People retire but are bored out of their brains.

“There’s a shift in the way people can accommodate that – in consulting, coaching, mentoring roles, part-time or casual roles.”

Mel Tickle, 61, does not have retirement in his sights, with part-time work an option he would consider in future.

Now employed as financial controller at irrigation firm Toro at Beverley, he said he enjoyed the work environment and mental stimulus of his job.

“I enjoy the company I work for, it’s a great place to be, it’s a terrific business and a really stimulating environment,” he said.

“It has its ups and downs – not every day do you long to be in the office.

“One of the good things about being an older person is you can help young people with some knowledge, not all of it but that `grey-haired wisdom’ if you like.”

He expected many people would have to work longer for financial reasons but it would not be the main motivator for those people who never intended to retire.

Source: www.news.com.au

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