PRESS RELEASE: 55/Redefined and Just Group Report Shows Employees Choose Flexible Futures and a Pathway to ‘Unretirement’ In Search of Purpose.

· London, 18 November 2025: A new report “Purpose, Pay & Possibilities: Redefining retirement – Flexible working & the journey from pay to purpose by 55/Redefined, the global leader in enterprise age intelligence and technology solutions, and Just Group plc (“Just”), the FTSE250 retirement specialist, reveals a seismic shift in attitudes towards retirement among UK workers aged 50–70.

The survey, conducted in partnership with Censuswide, polled 3,522 UK adults aged 50–70 and found that traditional notions of retirement are being redefined. Almost two-thirds surveyed now see retirement as phasing into retirement gradually, choosing whether to work or not, including some form of paid work or having the financial freedom to choose which work they do (62%)

A further third (32%) retired earlier than they wanted to, signalling what researchers are calling a seismic shift in attitudes to the traditional retirement period. Now, there is a growing desire to remain active and reengaged in the workforce later in life.

The report launched this week to mark the start of International Age Pioneers Week (17–21 November 2025), a new global event from 55/Redefined celebrating the value of age-inclusive workplaces and the contributions of professionals aged 50 and beyond.

With United Nations predictions showing that by 2050, one in five people will be aged over 60a, and UK figures indicating that by 2030, 47% of all workers will be aged over 50, it is vital to tap into the experience this workforce possessesb.

With many people living many healthy years longer compared to the last Century, it is time for a fundamental rethink in the way we approach the end of our careers. The reason for entering retirement varies, according to the survey results.

Financial insecurity remains a large driver of retirement decisions, with the decision to retire early a luxury many cannot afford. Exacerbated by rising living costs and lengthening lifespans, only 27% said they were somewhat ‘unconfident’ or ‘very unconfident’ they had enough money to get through retirement comfortably.

• 46% of 50-70 are confident they have enough money to get through retirement, but only 11% feel very confident about funding their retirement
• 45% worry about outliving their savings
• On average, respondents say they would need over £400,000 in savings, income or assets to feel secure

Yet despite financial concerns, the report reveals a shift in priorities. For those not planning to retire soon, purpose and flexibility now outweigh pay:

• 62% would take a pay cut (of more than £6,500 on average) for better work/life balance1[1]
• 87% believe personal passions and growth[2] are the most important ingredients in a happy retirement, ahead of money

Yet despite this appetite for meaningful work, 57% say they're still searching for purpose, even as they enter their third or fourth decade of working. Since the report found that a quarter of over-50s who had found their purpose did so through a career transition or professional development, this represents a massive untapped opportunity for employers to create roles that leverage experience while offering the flexibility this generation craves.

Translating this willingness to work into actual employment opportunities presents an opportunity to address some of the perceived biases in the workplace, since many older professionals profess to feeling undervalued, despite their extensive experience:

Almost one in three (30%) say soft skills and experience are not recognised by employers1

• 35% of those attribute this directly to ageism
• Only 12% feel soft skills are "very valued" by employers

Respondents cited unconscious bias, an overemphasis on formal qualifications, and a preference for digital skills as key barriers to soft skills and experiences not being valued as much as they should. Currently, just 13% are actively upskilling or reskilling and 6% are using coaching, underscoring a missed opportunity for employers to support this generation through purposeful career development.

Lyndsey Simpson, CEO of 55/Redefined, commented:

“Workplace demographics are shifting dramatically. With people living and working longer organisations are set to face a cliff-edge skills gap as their most experienced workers get ready to retire. But here's the crisis - many don't want to stop working - they just want to work differently.

“Analysis by the IMF shows that demographic factors account for nearly three-quarters of the projected global growth slowdown, and policies enabling older workers to stay in employment could offset much of this drag.3

“We have professionals willing to accept lower pay for flexibility and purpose, yet they're being told they're not valued. Employers are about to lose talent they don’t have time or money to lose. Employers must act now to create age-inclusive cultures that offer flexibility, purpose, and progression. It is clear to me that we must see retirement as a journey rather than a full stop.”

Ellie Evans, Group Chief People Officer from Just Group added:

“At Just Group, we believe that recognising the value of experienced workers is not only inclusive, it makes good business sense. We're proud to see age as an asset not a barrier. As people live and work longer employers will need to adapt to attract and retain older workers, making the most of the wealth of skills and experience they offer. At Just, we know this and we're working hard to ensure our workplace continues to be a place where everyone can thrive and belong at every stage of life.”

1. ‘Somewhat undervalued’ and ‘grossly undervalued’ answers combined.n bbv

To download the International Age Pioneers Week 2025 media pack and look ahead to the activities for IAPW 2026, please click here:

References:

a. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.) Population Ageing and Sustainable Development. https://social.desa.un.org/sdn/population-ageing-and-sustainable-developmen

b. General, L. A. (2021, August 30). Proportion of over 50s in work set to hit record high of 47% by 2030, according to new report. Legal & General Group. https://group.legalandgeneral.com/en/newsroom/pressreleases/proportion-of-over-50s-in-work-set-to-hit-record-high-of-47-by-2030-according-to-new-report

3. IMF, Sustaining Growth in an Ageing World, June 2025 https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2025/06/sustaining-growth-in-an-aging-world-bertrand-grus

Fact Check: The Case for Age Inclusion

• By 2030, 50% of the workforce in Western countries will be aged 50+. (55/Redefined The Unretirement Uprising Report)
• A 70-year-old in 2022 has the same cognitive score as a 53-year-old in 2000. (IMF, Sustaining Growth in an Ageing World).

· 34% of the US workforce is over-50; 1-in-5 over 65s Americans is in work (US Census Bureau)

• The number of workers aged 55 and over in the EU rose from 23.8 million in 2010 to almost 40 million in 2023 (Eurostat)

· Japan is a super-aged country and has one of the highest post-retirement employment rates in the world (Nippon.com). The government has launched a ¥1 trillion (approximately €5.8 billion) retraining plan to update skills across the entire workforce, regardless of age.

International Age Pioneers Week Highlights:

· Launch of a Research Study in conjunction with Just Group, “Purpose, Pay & Possibilities: Redefining retirement – Flexible working & the journey from pay to purpose”, surveying 3,500 individuals aged 50–70 on work, retirement, and age strategy.

· Publication of the Global Coalition on Aging Report, Age Intelligence in Action: Global Best Practices from Leading Employers, featuring best practices and case studies from global companies.

· Webinars, social media activations, and Redefiners content series from sponsors, celebrating age-inclusive innovation across sectors.

• Keynote sessions 55/Redefined Founder and CEO, Lyndsey Simpson, author of The Age Rebellion: Plan Your Future and Thrive! [available from Waterstones, publishing in May 2026. Order advance copies here

ENDS

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE

Lyndsey Simpson, Founder and CEO, 55/Redefined

CONTACT:

Tony Brown

PR and content executive

Tony.brown@55redefined.com

07796 888955

[1] Based on the ONS national average wage in the UK

[2] . ‘Having enough financial security to choose whether to work or not’ and ‘Phasing into retirement gradually (e.g. reducing hours or responsibilities over time)’ answers combined.