A survey finds work remains a financial necessity for 27% of adults ages 60–75, as living costs and limited savings reshape retirement plans.
For many Americans ages 60 to 75, retirement hasn’t made work optional. A ResumeBuilder.com survey found that 27% say working is financially necessary, while just 18% describe it primarily as a choice. The results point to a practical strain: rising expenses and uncertainty about savings are changing when people work, how they spend and whether they feel ready to retire.
The survey, released October 23, 2026, asked about both financial confidence and the steps respondents have taken in response to economic pressure. Among those working, searching for a job or considering a return to work, 28% cited the high cost of living. Another 17% said concern that Social Security could change influenced their plans; 16% pointed to the possibility of higher Medicare or healthcare costs, and 15% said they hadn’t saved enough for retirement.
Those reasons can overlap. A person weighing retirement may be looking at current bills, future healthcare expenses and the savings available to cover both. When those calculations don’t add up, continuing to work or bringing in income again can become part of the plan. The survey doesn’t show what any one respondent earns or how long they expect to keep working, but it captures how financial concerns are shaping decisions across this age group.
Confidence and savings gaps
Only 20% of respondents said they were very confident they have, or will have, enough money to maintain an acceptable standard of living throughout retirement. Another 43% were somewhat confident. The remaining 37% expressed less confidence: 22% were not very confident and 15% were not at all confident.
The distinction between “somewhat” and “very” confident matters. A person may expect to cover ordinary costs while remaining unsure about a major expense or a longer retirement. The survey doesn’t detail how respondents assessed their finances, but the answers suggest that many are planning without strong certainty about whether their resources will sustain their desired standard of living.
Savings figures add another dimension. Nineteen percent said they have no retirement savings. Separately, 29% reported using at least some retirement savings earlier than planned to meet current expenses. Within that group, 11% said they had taken out a significant amount and 18% a small amount. A further 52% said they hadn’t used retirement savings ahead of schedule.
These responses describe different financial situations, from having no retirement funds to drawing on savings to manage present-day costs. Taken together, they show why headline retirement age alone can’t explain when someone stops working. The decision also depends on whether savings can cover today’s needs without making future finances feel more uncertain.
Households are changing spending and work plans
Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said they had cut spending over the previous year. That was the most common adjustment reported. It sits alongside a range of work-related changes: 12% had considered returning to work after retirement, 9% had delayed their expected retirement, and 6% had actually gone back to work after retiring.
Some respondents described looking for more income while remaining in work. Nine percent had taken on an additional job or other source of income. Three percent had sought a higher-paying job, and another 3% had increased their working hours. Two percent said they had reduced retirement contributions to free up cash for current expenses.
Those figures suggest households are responding in several ways rather than following a single path. Spending cuts can reduce pressure in the near term; extra work can bring in additional income; and delayed retirement can extend the period of employment. Each response reflects a different adjustment, and the survey doesn’t establish whether any one approach resolves the underlying financial concern.
What the findings signal for employers
For employers, the figures offer a reminder that some older workers may stay on the job because they need the income, even when retirement is an option in principle. Others may be weighing a return or looking for additional hours. The survey doesn’t identify which industries or types of jobs are involved, so its results can’t predict staffing changes for a particular business. They do show that workers’ retirement timing may be closely tied to household budgets.
Stacie Haller, ResumeBuilder.com’s chief career advisor, said the idea that work automatically becomes optional at a particular age doesn’t match the circumstances of many older workers. She pointed to living costs, healthcare expenses and doubts about savings as pressures that can alter both employment plans and day-to-day financial choices.
The useful takeaway is to treat retirement timing as a financial decision that can shift when costs or confidence change. In this survey, that shift shows up in continued work, postponed retirement, spending reductions and early use of savings. With 37% reporting limited confidence about maintaining their standard of living, the numbers suggest employers and workers alike should expect retirement plans to reflect financial realities, not age alone.
