For generations, 65 was seen as the finish line. After decades of work, you could finally step away and enjoy retirement. But the latest research paints a very different picture. In Ireland, more and more people are coming to terms with the reality that they may be working into their seventies.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Pensions Research 2025 shows that 14% of adults expect to retire at 70, while a further 7% believe they’ll be working past that age. Among those already in their sixties and still in employment, the average expected retirement age is now 71. In other words, for a growing share of people, 70 is no longer the exception, it’s the expectation.
Who Expects to Work Until 70 and Beyond?
The research highlights a split between younger and older cohorts. People under 45 are optimistic, expecting to retire around 64 on average. But those already in their sixties see things differently. They expect to work until 71, reflecting lived experience of financial realities.
Gender also plays a role. Roughly one in five men and one in five women anticipate working to 70 or beyond, so the pressure is felt across the board. Social class differences matter too: those in higher social classes (AB) expect later retirements compared to those in lower-income groups, largely due to higher life expectancy and the ability to stay in work longer.
Why Are People Pushing Retirement Back?
Several factors are driving this shift:
- Lack of preparation: A quarter of Irish adults still have no retirement plan. Among 18–24 year olds, that figure jumps to 60%. Without pensions or savings, later retirement becomes unavoidable.
- Reliance on the State Pension: Three in five people without pensions expect the State Pension to carry them. But the State Pension is designed as a safety net, not a full income, and its sustainability is under increasing pressure.
- Rising costs: The State Pension already costs more than €10 billion a year, up from €6.5 billion a decade ago. With Ireland’s old-age dependency ratio projected to almost double in the next 30 years, the system will be stretched further.
- Delayed saving: Many don’t start contributing to pensions until their late thirties or forties, which leaves too little time for compounding to do its job.
The Consequences of a 70-Year Work Life
Working into your seventies is not just about money. It has wider consequences:
- Health and wellbeing: While people are living longer, not everyone is healthy enough to continue working past 65. For many, later retirement could mean working through years when energy and health are already declining.
- Family and lifestyle goals: Delaying retirement may mean less time to enjoy grandchildren, travel, or hobbies.
- Workplace challenges: Some industries are physically demanding and not sustainable for older workers. Without adequate savings, people in these jobs may find themselves stuck between poor health and poor finances.
Is This the New Normal?
If the trend continues, Ireland could see a large cohort of people working until 70 as standard. Policy decisions are already nudging in that direction. The government recently introduced a deferral option allowing people to wait until 70 to claim their State Pension in exchange for higher weekly payments. This is effectively signalling that later retirement is expected to become more common.
Mercer’s Global Pension Index has also raised concerns about the sustainability of Ireland’s pension system, warning that reforms are needed to ease the strain. Without big changes, individuals will increasingly shoulder the responsibility of working longer or saving more.
Can You Avoid Working Until 70?
Not everyone will have to work until 70. Those who start saving earlier and build up their own pensions will have more freedom to choose when they retire. The problem is, two-thirds of people have never even spoken to a financial advisor, and many have never reviewed their pension statements. Low engagement now is the biggest factor pushing retirement further down the road.
Starting contributions in your twenties or thirties can shave years off your working life. Even small amounts, consistently saved, allow compounding growth to do the heavy lifting. The difference between starting at 25 and starting at 40 can be the difference between retiring at 64 and retiring at 70.
Taking Action Now
The idea of working until 70 might sound grim, but it doesn’t have to be inevitable. With the right planning, you can take control and decide when you stop working, instead of leaving it up to circumstances.
At Riordan Financial, we work with clients to map out realistic retirement timelines and build the savings needed to get there. Whether your goal is to retire at 65, or even earlier, we’ll help you set up a plan that makes it possible.
Get in touch with Riordan Financial today to make sure “70” doesn’t become your retirement age by default.