On to retirement

Since 2013, the state pension age has gradually increased from 65 to 67 in 2014. Research by ROA shows that people continue to work longer and that the state pension age increasingly determines the age at which people retire. It therefore seems that the state pension age has started to function as the social norm for retirement behaviour, despite the fact that people often have the choice to also retire at other ages, according to researcher Raymond Montizaan of the ROA. The peak in retirement age has now shifted from 65 to 66 years. The average age at which self-employed people retire is rising faster than that of employees. The research also shows that people stay longer on unemployment and disability benefits. The probability of outflow to these schemes has increased for 65-year-olds as a result of the increase in the state pension age, but the inflow from unemployment benefits to work is also increasing.

Sustainable employability

The percentage of older employees who think they can meet the physical and psychological demands of working longer is increasing. Their health remains stable. Employees are more often given a job extension. But it is also clear that in the past three years employers have invested less in their staff. In particular, less money is spent on education and courses. Worryingly, this trend is evident across the entire workforce. “The question is to what extent this will have a negative effect on the sustainable employability of people in the long term.” according to Montizaan of the ROA.