A growing share of older Americans are delaying retirement or returning to work, according to a new ResumeBuilder.com survey of 3,574 U.S. seniors ages 65 and older. The survey, conducted in December 2025, follows ResumeBuilder’s 2023 and 2024 studies on seniors rejoining the workforce and shows the trend is continuing into 2026.
Key findings:
- 1 in 10 seniors don’t plan to retire until 2030 or later
- Nearly 1 in 8 seniors have already returned to work or plan to rejoin the workforce in 2026, including 16% who say they never retired
- More than half of seniors say financial concerns are influencing their decision to work
- 1 in 10 seniors don’t plan to retire until 2030 or later
- Most seniors who plan to keep working expect to do so part-time
1 in 8 Seniors Already Have or Will Go Back To Work in 2026
Overall, 8% of seniors report having returned to work. Among those who reentered the workforce, most did so before 2024 (74%), while 13% returned in 2024 and another 13% returned in 2025. Additionally, 4% of seniors report that they are currently applying for jobs with plans to re-enter the workforce. Meanwhile, 16% say they have never retired, indicating that a notable share of seniors have continued working without ever fully leaving the labor force.
Cost-of-living is driving older Americans to continue working
When asked why they are continuing to work or returning to work, seniors most commonly cite enjoying work (54%) and the high cost of living (54%). Financial insecurity also plays a role, with 37% saying they have not saved enough for retirement. Other reasons include combating boredom (34%), concerns about potential changes to Social Security (26%), and worries about changes to Medicare (19%).
“For many seniors, retirement has become more flexible than final,” says ResumeBuilder.com’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. “Rising living costs, concerns about long-term savings, and uncertainty around Social Security and Medicare are pushing more older Americans to either delay retirement or return to work after leaving the workforce. At the same time, today’s workplace offers far more flexible opportunities for older professionals. Remote and hybrid roles, part-time work, and project-based positions make it easier for seniors to stay engaged on their own terms. For many, continuing to work isn’t about necessity, it’s about purpose, connection, and simply enjoying the work itself.”
1 in 3 Seniors Won’t Retire This Decade
Retirement remains years away for many seniors. While 6% say they plan to retire by the end of 2025, 15% expect to retire in 2026, and 23% in 2027. Another 13% say they do not plan to retire until 2028, and 9% until 2029. The largest share, 34%, say they do not plan to retire until 2030 or later.
Among those planning to continue working, 58% expect to work part-time, while 42% plan to work full-time, suggesting many seniors prefer a gradual transition rather than a full-time return to work.
“For many, this stage of life becomes an opportunity to finally pursue work they’ve always been interested in, launch a long-considered business, or shift into more meaningful projects,” says Haller.
Haller notes that many of her clients simply enjoy the work they do. They also want to stay mentally and socially engaged, as well as maintain financial security. She adds that retirement today is less about stepping away and more about working with intention and choice.
Methodology
This survey was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the polling platform Pollfish in December 2025. It surveyed 3,574 U.S. residents ages 64 to 91.
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