Will You Work Until You Die?
Nearly one out of five individuals expects to work until they die. That’s according to a new study which surveyed US adults about their attitudes toward working, saving, and retiring. While the average across all age groups was nearly one in five, twice that number of those aged 65 or over expect to work until they die.
Wow.
According to the survey, sponsored by BankRate.com, a huge proportion of US adults doesn’t expect to retire before death:
Nearly four of 10 seniors surveyed say they plan on working until death. And 21 percent of those between the ages of 35 and 64 predict that they’ll be working forever, too. Only 9 percent of 25- to 35-year-olds expect to work permanently. Yet 19 percent of the youngest age group, 18- to 24-year-olds, sees work as a forever thing. Our poll, conducted by GfKRoper, did not survey anyone who was already retired. And the base size of the young set was small.
What’s your target age for retirement?
I will work until…
Yet, early retirement remains a target for many:
When asked, “What is your target date for retiring?” roughly one-quarter of all respondents (27 percent) planned on quitting in their 50s. The younger individuals were more likely to plan on an early exit; 38 percent of those between 18 and 34 plan on retiring in their 50s.
How about you?
How much of your life is dedicated to work? How much of the meaning of your life is intertwined with work?
Is work important enough that you’d actually like to do it until you die?
Other articles by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor
This article was last reviewed by on Thursday, 10th May 2007.
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