Three out of every four early retirees in Germany would be willing to extend their working lives if the conditions were right. A study conducted by the University of Wuppertal for the Bertelsmann Stiftung, reported in the Handelsblatt’s Wednesday edition, shows this trend.
Although the labour‑participation rate for people aged 60 and over has risen sharply in recent years, a “culture of early exit” still dominates, said study leader Martin Hasselhorn. Still, only about a quarter of the respondents categorically reject any employment.
Already, one in five of those surveyed remains employed, indicating that work during early retirement is not a fringe phenomenon but a significant one. Seventeen per cent of the respondents expressed a clear desire to return to paid work. A further 37 percent said they would be willing to work again if the work conditions were suitable; this willingness surfaced only when the researchers asked them, suggesting they are not actively seeking jobs.
The key factors that matter most to these retirees are the ability to set the scope and timing of their work and to work in a pleasant social environment.