Are retirees really “unretiring” and going back to work? Here at the Blog, we’ve read plenty of articles that suggest the answer is yes. Some have even referred to “the Great Unretirement,” asserting that many of those forced into retiring earlier than planned during the COVID pandemic have since dusted off their resumes and gone back to earning a steady paycheck. 

As you dive into the details, however, the actual picture becomes a bit murky. For example, many of those who quit full-time work have gone back only part-time – does that count as “unretirement”? Others have started side gigs, working from home – technically not “retired” but not exactly going back to the office or the shop floor, either. Our view is that we may be in the middle of an unretirement trend, but we’ll have a wait a few years to get a clearer assessment. 

Today, though, thanks to this recent article from the Motley Fool, we’re looking at a different aspect of unretirement: motivation. What prompted those who have decided to abandon retirement and go back to work to take that step? Reporter Dana George takes a look at survey data and comes up with at least eight reasons why respondents say they chose to unretire.  

Were financial considerations at the top of the list? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Let’s dive deeper. 

“A Lot of Life to Live” Once You Decide to Retire 

If you’ve toyed with the idea of working a new job in retirement, George says, you’re not alone: “Whether you retire from your official job in your 50s or 70s, you could still have a lot of 

life to live.” 

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in the 2025 edition of its Retirement Confidence Survey – the longest-running survey of its kind – 75 percent of respondents plan to work for pay in retirement. And each individual has their own reasons for doing so, from the need for social interaction to the desire to keep investing.  

Retirement Plans Don’t Often Match “Retirement Reality” 

According to George, the EBRI has been conducting this survey for quite a few years, and they consistently find that fewer people who plan to work in retirement actually end up doing it. “In other words, some of those 75 percent saying they plan to work will change their minds,” she writes. “Maybe once Social Security, annuities, and other sources of income start hitting their bank accounts, they decide they’re fine financially and can get their social and emotional needs met in other ways.” 

Others may be forced to abandon plans to work longer due to declining health, or the illness of a spouse. They may also lack the job skills necessary in a competitive work environment. 

But there certainly are those who do choose to carry through and get a new job after retirement. And George calls their stated reasons for doing so “surprisingly positive”.  

Here’s why respondents who are working in retirement say they’re doing so. (As noted, respondents were free to offer multiple answers but we’ve arranged these in order from most to least responses.) Retirees are going back to work because: 

Retirees Want to Stay Active and Involved (89 percent) 

Planning-tool company Boldin reports that the most common complaint about retirement is boredom. “After years of structure, schedules, and to-do lists, retirees have time to themselves and may feel a little lost. Daily activities don’t come looking for them,” George writes. “Among working retirees, 89 percent say one of the main reasons they returned to work was to remain active and involved.” 

Retirees Say They Appreciate the Work They Do (88 percent) 

George tells us that the people more drawn to post-retirement work than the average person are those who simply can’t slow down. “They find joy in the accomplishment of working, and can’t imagine life without new daily challenges,” she writes. “Whether they work from home, go into an office, or clock in daily, life without a job doesn’t appeal to them.” 

Retirees Say They Find Work Rewarding (83 percent) 

For many, working after retirement can finally give them an outlet for the things they really care about. “For example,” George writes, “working in a garden center may not feel like work for someone who’s spent their career in a factory or stuffy office. For a retiree who’s always enjoyed children, spending hours with them in a preschool setting could be their idea of perfection.” 

Retirees Return to Work Because “An Opportunity Came Along” (56 percent) 

Sometimes a good opportunity just falls into your lap. And that’s true for a “surprising” 56 percent of respondents, according to George: “Maybe it was a job offered to them out of the blue, or perhaps it was the result of a job listing they knew they’d be perfect for, but these are people who discovered an opportunity too good to pass up.” 

Retirees Don’t Want to Dip Into Their Savings (54 percent) 

Experts tell us that there’s a trend among retirees called the “consumption gap”, which refers to those have the financial means to spend more than they do but feel paralyzed by the fear of watching their savings go down. “It makes sense when you consider how many years someone might spend planning and saving enough to retire in comfort,” George writes. “Of working respondents, 54 percent say they’re working so they won’t have to draw from savings.” 

Retirees Say They Need Help Making Ends Meet (40 percent) 

“As much as Americans are encouraged to develop a strategy for retirement income, life has a habit of getting in the way. Whether they love working after retirement or wish they didn’t have to, 40 percent of respondents say they need the income to cover everyday expenses,” George writes.  

Retirees Say They Plan to Continue Investing (26 percent) 

Some retirees want to see how far their money can go. George explains, “Whether it’s investing in individual stocks that appeal to them, building up a Roth IRA, or attempting to grow their money somewhere else, 26 percent say they took on a post-retirement job to continue investing.” 

Retirees Say They Need Access to Workplace Insurance (16 percent) 

Health insurance is a necessity for all of us, and this is especially a worry for those who retire before they’re eligible for Medicare. Since those benefits often come with a job, many retirees choose to work to access healthcare.  

George concludes, “If working after retirement repels you, there’s no shame in that. After all, you’ve put in your time. But for many, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and a surprising number of post-retirement workers seem quite happy for the opportunity to be back in the workplace.” 

Some of the EBRI Data Points Reveal a Sobering Picture 

Before we conclude this article, it’s worth reflecting on at least three of the data points from the EBRI survey. 

For example, the survey shows that, while “a growing share” of workers plan to retire at 70 or beyond, many find their plans altered. Retirees, says the survey, “report retiring at a younger age than workers anticipate. Most retirees (three in five) report retiring earlier than age 65, with a median retirement age of 62.” In other words, the desire to work longer may be wishful thinking, since about 40 percent of retirees say they left work earlier than planned, mostly for reasons beyond their control. 

The second point of note concerns the idea of gradual retirement – the “retirement glide path” many workers envision. The EBRI reports that half of all workers hope to retire “gradually, over time.” However, this goal is in stark contrast with retirement reality. Nearly three-fourths of retirees say theirs was a “full-time stop” retirement experience, not a gradual one.  

Finally, the EBRI survey shows a major discrepancy between those who plan to earn a paycheck in retirement and those who actually do. “Three-quarters of workers think that they will work for pay in retirement,” says the report, “while only 3 in 10 retirees say they actually have worked for pay since retiring.” 

All this is a clear call for a more comprehensive approach to retirement planning. 

Rajiv Nagaich – Your Retirement Planning Coach and Guide 

The long-awaited book by Rajiv Nagaich, called Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster, has been released and is now available to the public. Retirement: Dream or Disaster joins Rajiv’s ground-breaking DVD series and workbook, Master Your Future, as a powerful planning tool in your retirement toolbox. As a friend of AgingOptions, we know you’ll want to get your copy and spread the word.  

You’ve heard Rajiv say it repeatedly: 70 percent of retirement plans will fail. If you know someone whose retirement turned into a nightmare when they were forced into a nursing home, went broke paying for care, or became a burden to their families – and you want to make sure it doesn’t happen to you – then this book is must-read. 

Through stories, examples, and personal insights, Rajiv takes us along on his journey of expanding awareness about a problem that few are willing to talk about, yet it’s one that results in millions of Americans sleepwalking their way into their worst nightmares about aging. Rajiv lays bare the shortcomings of traditional retirement planning advice, exposes the biases many professionals have about what is best for older adults, and much more. 

Rajiv then offers a solution: LifePlanning, his groundbreaking approach to retirement planning. Rajiv explains the essential planning steps and, most importantly, how to develop the framework for these elements to work in concert toward your most deeply held retirement goals.  

Your retirement can be the exciting and fulfilling life you’ve always wanted it to be. Start by reading and sharing Rajiv’s important message. And remember, Age On, everyone! 

(originally reported at www.fool.com)