Irish adults expect to work past retirement

A new report indicates that a significant majority of Irish adults do not anticipate a traditional retirement, with most expecting to continue working beyond the conventional retirement age due to increased longevity. The findings, published by Irish Life in its Life100 Report, suggest a fundamental shift in how people plan to navigate their later years, driven by the prospect of living longer lives. According to the research, which surveyed over 2,000 adults in Ireland, only about one in five people expect to fully retire and stop working entirely. Instead, more than half anticipate working beyond retirement age, either by gradually reducing their hours or continuing in part-time roles. Older respondents, aged 65 and over, showed a particular preference for phased retirement, with a substantial percentage favoring a gradual transition. While awareness of the need for financial planning for longer lives is high, with roughly 80 percent of adults acknowledging its importance, confidence in their ability to financially sustain an extended lifespan is considerably lower. Only about one-third of respondents feel confident they can afford to live to 100.