Most people think of retirement as a financial goal that allows you to step away from work for the remainder of your life, but as many as 1 in 6 retirees are flipping the script and considering heading back to work.1
Some of the most common reasons retirees are thinking about going back to work are needing more money (55%), boredom (47%), and inflation (41%).2
A majority of these retirees, however, want “unretirement” to look different than the jobs they worked for decades: More than three in six retirees who are considering returning to work want remote positions.3
Why do retirees want to work remotely?
Going back to the grind after thinking you’re done can be challenging, but the flexibility of remote work helps make it easier. Consider these benefits of remote work for retirees:
- Eliminates stressful commutes
- Gives freedom to travel and work from anywhere
- Provides ability to care for an aging parent
- Allows more time to spend with family
- Provides supplemental income or helps delay dipping into retirement savings
- Adds structure and meaning to day-to-day life
- Keeps mind active
- Leverages many years of experience in career field
Check out these benefits of working longer.
3 tips for retirees looking for remote positions
Are you a retiree who’s considering heading back to work in a remote position? Check out these three tips that can help you find a job that’s right for you.
1. Consider your experience or strengths.
Are there remote jobs available in your previous career field? For example, if you worked in health care, you may be able to find a telehealth role. Or if you were teacher, you may be able to teach online. People who worked in finance may be able to find remote analyst or accounting jobs.
However, not all job experience translates so seamlessly. In these cases, it might help to think about your strengths. For example, if you’re a people person, consider remote customer service positions. Or if you’re great with technology, look into remote technical support positions. If you’re a good writer, consider picking up some freelance copywriting jobs.
2. Optimize your search.
There are plenty of websites that post remote jobs. These websites make it easy to find and apply to remote positions, and some are even niche to certain fields, helping whittle down your search.
In addition to looking online, don’t underestimate the power of your personal network. Talk to people you know and let them know you’re looking for remote work, or post on LinkedIn or Facebook. Most people are thrilled to help someone out.
3. Look for companies that cater to retirees.
With 68 million baby boomers nearing or in retirement4 and 9.5 million U.S. jobs sitting unfilled,5 some companies are recruiting older workers and making changes to cater to these workers. For example, some companies are adopting “boomerang” programs that allow former employees to return part-time. Other companies are adopting “returnships,” or short-term employment programs intended to help retirees ease their way back into the workforce.
We’re here for you!
Whether you’re retiring or unretiring, Bankers Life is here to help ensure your financial plan is keeping up with your life. Get in touch with us for the service and support you need!
Keep reading! Learn about 10 part-time jobs to supplement retirement income
1Bankrate, 1 in 6 retirees are considering returning to work: How remote work can help, https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/american-are-considering-returning-to-work/, 2023.
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
4Statista, Resident population in the United States in 2022, by generation, https://www.statista.com/statistics/797321/us-population-by-generation/, 2023.
5U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Understanding America’s Labor Shortage, https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/understanding-americas-labor-shortage, 2023.
