Reaching the statutory retirement age is increasingly not the end of professional activity. According to ZUS statistics, the number of working seniors has increased by more than half in the last decade. Experts note that this trend may have deeper causes, and the average working retiree is now about 68 years old.
Data quoted by 'Rzeczpospolita’ shows that at the end of 2025, 879.5 thousand retirees were covered by health insurance from a title other than receiving a pension. At the same time, 552.7 thousand people also paid pension and disability insurance contributions.
The difference between these figures likely stems from the fact that part of the retirees run their own businesses. In such cases, only the health insurance contribution is mandatory, while pension and disability contributions no longer need to be paid, the daily explains.
Ten years ago the situation looked completely different. At the end of 2015, 575.4 thousand retirees were covered by health insurance from another source, and 371.9 thousand paid pension and disability contributions. This means that over the decade, the number of working retirees increased by nearly 53 percent.
More seniors working, but at what cost?
The growing number of seniors working despite retirement does not fill everyone with optimism. Łukasz Kozłowski from the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs points out that although additional employment can significantly improve current financial situation, in the long term it may lead to problems.
– As long as a retiree can work, he benefits from two sources of income, which clearly improves his financial situation. The problem arises when, due to age or health, further professional activity becomes impossible. Then only the pension remains, which often proves insufficient – said Łukasz Kozłowski.
Political reluctance to raise retirement age
The daily also notes that the average working retiree is currently about 68 years old. According to experts, this trend could reignite the debate on raising the retirement age.
Łukasz Kozłowski recalls, however, that after the earlier reform was withdrawn, the topic practically disappeared from public debate. He assesses that despite economic arguments in favor of changes, politicians are currently not interested in returning to this issue, and a breakthrough is hard to expect in the coming years.
The phenomenon of working retirees is likely to persist, driven by both financial necessity and the desire to remain active. But for many, the golden years may turn into a period of uncertainty when health fails.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Shutterstock
