More than half (51%) of UK adults will consider working past state pension age, according to research.
A survey of 7,687 non-retired UK adults aged over 45 (including 1,012 who are planning to retire in 2015), conducted by Prudential, reported that 51% of adults will consider working past pension age to help improve their financial position.
Prudential said of those due to retire this year, which the firm described as "class of 2015", over a fifth (21%) said they were not ready to give up work. Another 24% said they had chosen to delay their retirement plans.
Of those considering staying in work, 57% said they wanted to "keep mentally and physically fit". Another 39% wanted to work past retirement age because "they simply enjoy working" while 35% said they would miss interacting with work colleagues. A third (33%) did not like the idea of "being at home all the time" and 23% confessed they would miss having a daily routine.
Stan Russell, senior business development manager at Prudential, said: "The old image of everyone giving up work aged 60 or 65 and becoming a pensioner is a thing of the past. People are seeing the opportunity to stay at work full-time or in a period of 'pre-tirement' [a term used to describe planning for and moving towards retirement] as an attractive one - whether it's to boost their pension pots or just to stay fit, healthy and stimulated."
Of those planning to retire, Prudential said a third (30%) would enrol on a course, while another third (29%) planned to undertake voluntary work. Over a quarter (26%) of respondents said they would join a club or an activity group.
Russell said: "People's attitudes towards retirement are increasingly optimistic, especially with the new freedom on accessing pension savings that will come into effect this April. The 'class of 2015' are approaching their later years determined to improve their health, acquire new skills and enjoy themselves."
