The proportion of younger retirees in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, who continue to work after retiring increased last year, according to data published Wednesday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), as reported by DPA.
Approximately 14% of people aged 65 to 74 who receive a pension were also working in 2025, up from 13% in 2024. About 27% of working retirees say they are self-employed.
Among those employed, 65% held so-called “mini-jobs,” in which they work no more than 70 days a year and earn up to 556 euros per month.
Retirees who work as self-employed individuals were also more likely to work longer hours. About 28% of them say they work more than 40 hours a week, compared with 8% of employees.
Employment was most common immediately after retirement. Among retirees aged 65 to 66, 19% are still working, compared with 8% among those aged 73 to 74.
Older adults with a higher level of education were also more likely to continue working, with an employment rate of 18%, compared with 12% for those with a medium level of education and 10% for those with a lower level of education.
In a separate 2023 study by Destatis, one-third of working retirees said financial reasons motivated them to continue working. Many cited the joy their work brought them or the desire to remain socially connected.
Germany is gradually raising the legal retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2031, with the aim of extending working life. In 2024, the legal retirement age rose to 66, 12 months later than when the reform began in 2012.
AGERPRES
