By John Salak –
Maybe chilling down for those golden days of retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, retirement may not be all that golden. Sure, working past 50 or even past the average U.S. retirement age of 65 has economic benefits. But a University of Michigan poll reports it may also have physical and mental health benefits.
The university’s poll found that more than two-thirds of those who work after age 50 report their employment boosts their physical health, mental health and overall well-being. Nearly half, 46 percent, note that working after 50 gives them an important sense of purpose and helps keep their brain sharp.
Even those still working past age 65 were more likely to report that work has strong positive impacts on their health and well-being. They also strongly agree that working keeps their brain sharp.
The poll found that 18 percent of respondents aged 65 and older report working full- or part-time for an employer or are self-employed, compared with 63 percent of those aged 50 to 64. Of all those aged 50 and over who are working, 69 percent said they work in person. The rest report that they are either fully remote or partially so.
Job satisfaction among mature adults is also high with 88 percent of those who work saying they feel “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their job.
The report did indicate that some respondents did not see the benefits of working later in life. In fact, about one-third of those 50 and older said their jobs had a negative effect on their physical health and almost as many reported working had a negative impact on their mental health.
“Our perceptions of working after age 65 have changed over time, and these data suggest that most older adults who are still able to work after the traditional retirement age derive health-related benefits from doing so,” said poll director Dr. Jeffrey Kullgren, an associate professor of internal medicine at the university. “As we learn more about how loneliness, lack of social connection and isolation intertwine with physical and mental health in older adults, the role of work is important to consider.”
The changing demographic makeup of the U.S. over the last several decades probably also impacted the findings. These changes have come even as the average U.S. retirement age remains 65, below several other industrialized nations.
“Americans are living and working longer than ever before, with nearly 38 million older adults in the workforce today—more than two and a half times the number from 40 years ago,” noted Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience at AARP. “This poll reinforces what we hear from older workers every day—that work provides more than just a paycheck. It offers purpose, connection and cognitive benefits. But barriers like age discrimination stand in the way.”
The Michigan poll is only the latest indication that working later in life can provide benefits. WellWell reported last year that Chinese workers experience rising levels of stress as they face retirement that extends beyond financial considerations. These workers faced significant anxiety over filling their lives with purpose after they left their jobs.
