MARCH OF WORKERS AGED 80

Number in work doubles in only five years as older pensioners take part-time jobs

THE number of workers in their eighties and nineties has doubled in only five years. New figures show thousands of people aged 80 and over are finding part-time jobs in a move dubbed a ‘social revolution’. More than 42,000 octogenarians and nonagenarians are in employment, compared to 21,000 five years ago.

With pensioners feeling fitter and healthier for longer, more are opting for so-called ‘part-tirement’ to keep active and boost their income. Many are turning to the retail and service industries, while others have launched their own businesses or stay on as directors and advisers.

The Office for National Statistics says 1.4 per cent of people aged 80 and over were in work in 2016, compared to 0.8 per cent in 2011.

Most of this rise was in the past two

years alone, with 12,000 more people in work since 2014.

Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann said: ‘This is the way of the future. There is a social revolution happening.

‘We are brought up to think it is the norm to retire in your sixties but that is just not the case any more.

‘People are becoming fitter and healthier and many people are choosing to work for longer.

‘If you are working in your eighties, it is probably not about the money, it is most likely because you want to work. Flexible working hours for working mothers has helped older people, too, to find part-time work or to do more home-working.’

Lady Altmann said many pensioners still faced age discrimination, however, and urged employers to ‘wake up’ to the economic benefits of employing more experienced workers.

Official figures show there has also been a significant rise in workers aged 70 and over, with almost half a million now in work. There are 458,000 in employment compared to 271,000 five years ago. It means almost six in 100 people aged 70 or over are working.

The number of pensioners with jobs has risen significantly since 2011 when the default retirement age – which meant bosses could force older workers to leave at 65 – was scrapped.

Paul Green, of over-50s specialist company Saga, said: ‘With people living longer and healthier lives, more Britons now in their seventies and eighties are choosing to carry on working full or part-time, do some volunteering work or perhaps make their hobby pay.

‘This is great for individuals and for society as work is not just about the money – it can keep you physically and mentally active as well as adding to your social life.’

Charities warned that some people were forced to work well into retirement to boost poor pension incomes. Janet Morrison, of the charity Independent Age, said: ‘We need to ensure that working for longer doesn’t come at the cost of older workers’ health.’