Recruiters and freelancers yearn for retirement

Aon Consulting surveyed 7,279 European workers as part of their European Employee Benefits Benchmark and discovered that most workers expected to be working for more years than their parents did.

Almost 50% of the German workers surveyed said they will purchase annuities and other financial products so they can retire when they had first planned.

People in Spain are the most reluctant to have their retirement delayed. Only 18% said they had accepted the situation.

Whilst more than 25% of Europeans realise that government policy may mean they have to work longer, they are prepared to use their own money to purchase financial tools such as annuities.

In the UK recruitment industry, 23% of business owners think their retirement prospects are picking up as the recession fades according to Clifton Asset Management. However, that still leaves over three quarters believing retirement is further away than it was this time last year.

Declining pension and property values are the main reason that just under a quarter of people in the industry say they would delay retirement although the most popular age bracket for retirement is still 60 to 65.

There are variations in the level of optimism throughout the country with people in London remaining most optimistic whilst those in the North East and Wales the least.

We are living longer and by 2050 it is estimated that more than 25% of people in OECD countries will be 65 or older. Currently the figure stands at just under 15%. Governments around the world are realising that they need to raise the retirement age to help pay for healthcare and pensions of an aging population.

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