{"id":2026444,"date":"2026-07-03T09:59:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T06:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2026444"},"modified":"2026-07-03T09:59:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T06:59:07","slug":"retired-but-still-working-where-in-europe-is-financial-necessity-the-biggest-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2026444","title":{"rendered":"Retired but still working: Where in Europe is financial necessity the biggest reason?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/34\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_62816e93-7e19-519c-a3a1-d09c0324c97b-9823432.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2907076-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2907076\" data-cid=\"9824464\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907076-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_6628e601-bd71-5ef6-bfa9-288a83f1e351-9824464.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Irish Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen: EU will hit back if China misses October trade deadline\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907084-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2907084\" data-cid=\"9824497\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907084-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_cfe67367-5c01-58fa-9572-ff5e2df3d089-9824497.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman holds a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a protest in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, 2024. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU blacklists six people involved in Navalny assassination\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907042-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2907042\" data-cid=\"9824344\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907042-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/43\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_bac53a07-9e2b-5c6b-8099-2a8efa3907a3-9824344.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Booster humanoid robots play football during a media tour ahead of the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Humanoid robots showcase football skills\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907081-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2907081\" data-cid=\"9824482\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907081-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/82\/189x106_cmsv2_fe751fc8-f537-5b9d-b37b-a75d973c5cee-9824482.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rescue workers and volunteers cover bodies after a bus crash in Dana Sar, 3 July, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Pakistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    At least 40 killed after bus plunges into ravine in southwest Pakistan\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907076-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2907076\" data-cid=\"9824464\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907076-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/64\/189x106_cmsv2_6628e601-bd71-5ef6-bfa9-288a83f1e351-9824464.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Irish Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen: EU will hit back if China misses October trade deadline\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907084-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2907084\" data-cid=\"9824497\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907084-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_cfe67367-5c01-58fa-9572-ff5e2df3d089-9824497.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman holds a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a protest in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin, 2024. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU blacklists six people involved in Navalny assassination\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907042-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2907042\" data-cid=\"9824344\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907042-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/43\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_bac53a07-9e2b-5c6b-8099-2a8efa3907a3-9824344.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Booster humanoid robots play football during a media tour ahead of the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Humanoid robots showcase football skills\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907081-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2907081\" data-cid=\"9824482\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907081-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/44\/82\/189x106_cmsv2_fe751fc8-f537-5b9d-b37b-a75d973c5cee-9824482.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rescue workers and volunteers cover bodies after a bus crash in Dana Sar, 3 July, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Pakistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    At least 40 killed after bus plunges into ravine in southwest Pakistan\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Business<\/p>\n<p>                          Economy<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Retired but still working: Where in Europe is financial necessity the biggest reason?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/34\/32\/1536x864_cmsv2_62816e93-7e19-519c-a3a1-d09c0324c97b-9823432.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Pensioners and patients protest during the second day of the health workers strike in Bellvitge, Spain, Wednesday Nov. 16, 2011. \"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Pensioners and patients protest during the second day of the health workers strike in Bellvitge, Spain, Wednesday Nov. 16, 2011.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Copyright 2011 AP. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Copyright 2011 AP. All rights reserved.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspServet Yanatma\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1783072747\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-07-03 11:59:07 +02:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 11:59 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div 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height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Around 13% of pensioners in the EU continue working. Financial necessity is a significant reason, but experts point to other factors too, such as changing norms, changing demography and enduring labour shortages.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--business js-article-content\">\n<p>Pension income is lower than late-career earnings across European countries. In the EU, a person who earned \u20ac100 between the ages of 50 and 59 would receive \u20ac58 in pension income between the ages of 65 and 74 in 2023, according to Eurostat.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This makes it difficult for many older people to maintain their standard of living after retirement. Nearly one in six pensioners are at risk of poverty in the EU.<\/p>\n<p>Several pensioners continue to work after retirement. Their reasons vary. The main reason is enjoying work and remaining productive (36.3%), but financial necessity (28.6%) is also a major driver. <\/p>\n<p>So, in which countries do retired people continue to work after receiving an old-age pension? And in which European countries is financial necessity the biggest driver?<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the most recent data available as of 2026, 12.9% of people in the EU continued working during the six months following receipt of their first old-age pension. <\/p>\n<p>This varies widely across Europe, ranging from 1.7% in Romania to 54.9% in Estonia, according to Eurostat.<\/p>\n<p>The share continuing to work is also above two in five in Latvia (44.2%), Lithuania (43.7%) and Sweden (41.7%). Two other Nordic countries follow this top group, with Cyprus (29.7%) sitting in the middle: Norway (37.7%) and Finland (28.5%).<\/p>\n<p>Besides Romania (1.7%), the share is significantly low in Greece (4.2%), Spain (4.5%) and Croatia (5%).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGreece used to have a very strict stance against working pensioners. This, with the encouragement of the crisis, pension cuts and pension reform softened,\u201d Professor Platon Tinios from Piraeus University told Euronews Business.<\/p>\n<p>He added that a major policy change in 2022 led to a sharp rise in registered working pensioners. However, this rise is not captured in the data, as it came after the second half of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>In several countries, financial necessity is the main reason to continue working. Among those who continued working, the share citing financial necessity ranges from 9.4% in Sweden to 68.5% in Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course, wherever people say they are working for financial necessity, it means they feel their pension income is inadequate,\u201d Dr Olga Rajevska from Riga Stradins University told Euronews Business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA high proportion of these answers suggests the pension system in the respective countries is inadequate and unable to provide sufficient income.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Romania (54.3%) and Bulgaria (53.6%), more than half said they kept working out of financial necessity. It is also above one in three in Croatia (48.2%), Latvia (47.9%), Portugal (39%), Hungary (38.1%), France (37.7%) and Germany (35.8%).<\/p>\n<p>Among the EU&#8217;s four largest economies, Spain has the lowest rate at 19.6%. Italy (29.7%) is just above the EU average.<\/p>\n<p>At the bottom, Norway (9.8%) closely follows Sweden (9.4%). In Czechia and Luxembourg, the share of pensioners continuing to work out of financial necessity remains below 15%.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How many pensioners work because they have to<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When the share of pensioners working after retirement is combined with the share citing financial necessity as their main reason, it reveals the overall share of pensioners working out of financial necessity. <\/p>\n<p>This stands at 3.7% in the EU, ranging from 0.9% in Romania to 21.2% in Latvia across Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Cyprus (20.3%) is also above one in five while Estonia (17.3%) and Lithuania (%) are in double digits. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the Baltic states, the primary factor is the financial necessity to continue working because pensions in these countries are far below the European average,\u201d Rajevska said. <\/p>\n<p> \u201cAs long as people are able to work, they continue to do so simply to earn enough for a decent standard of living.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Bulgaria (8.9%), Hungary (7.7%) and Slovakia (7.5%), at least 7.5% of all pensioners continue to work due to financial necessity.<\/p>\n<p>Among major economies, Germany has the highest rate at 4.5% whereas France (3.7%) matches the EU average. <\/p>\n<p>Spain (1%) has the lowest share of pensioners working out of financial necessity. Italy (2.8%) is also below the EU average.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Retirees are healthier and better educated than before<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Professor K\u00e8ne Henkens from the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) noted that in countries with poor pensions, people are more likely to continue working. But in countries with good pensions, an increase in post-retirement work is also seen. There are several important reasons for this. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cRetirees are healthier and higher educated than before and, as a result, have a stronger connection to the labour market.\u201d he told Euronews Business.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou see in the Eurostat figures that most of the working retirees work for pleasure and social integration.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Changing norms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>He pointed out that this development is reinforced by changing norms about post-retirement work within companies. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the Netherlands, for example, we can clearly see employers becoming more positive about employing workers beyond retirement age. This also has to do with changing demography and enduring labour shortages. Retirees are seen as a pool of additional labour supply,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Many may want to work but cannot find it<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Henkens warned that many pensioners in poorer countries may want to work but cannot find employment. He emphasised that for this reason, the figures cover only those already working. The number of retirees involuntarily out of work may also vary significantly by country.<\/p>\n<p>Tinios also noted that the possibility of pensioners working is an important component of an active ageing strategy, adding flexibility to ease the transition from full-time work to full-time retirement. It also allows society to benefit from the skills of older citizens while helping fill labour market gaps caused by demographic factors.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Financial necessity is a relative concept<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Professor Lauri Leppik from Tallinn University pointed out that &#8216;financial necessity&#8217; is a relative concept, which does not necessarily relate to the absolute amount of the public pension.<\/p>\n<p> He underlined that while economic motives &#8211; financial need or the desire to supplement a public pension with earnings from work &#8211; are relevant factors behind the phenomenon of working pensioners, the link between pension adequacy and employment at pension age is not straightforward, but somewhat more nuanced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2852684-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2852684\" data-cid=\"9574771\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2852684-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/71\/480x270_cmsv2_12af317f-8730-598d-92a9-a8e89ee68cab-9574771.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man holding a placard reading in Spanish: &quot;Rajoy thief, you stole my pension&quot; walks in the rain during a protest by pensioners in Madrid. 17 March, 2018.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Retirees in Europe: Which countries offer the highest pensions?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2804100-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2804100\" data-cid=\"9302664\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2804100-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/30\/26\/64\/480x270_cmsv2_9723a990-1940-5bd9-a628-5c8f846ef34e-9302664.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Population illustration - file photo.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe\u2019s rising retirement ages: One country leads\u2014which will follow?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2751922-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2751922\" data-cid=\"9046528\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2751922-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/04\/65\/28\/480x270_cmsv2_9e13d999-6558-566f-bc0f-08c4b07cbbf8-9046528.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There is a wide discrepancy throughout the EU as far as pensions are concerned\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pensions vs earnings across Europe: The highest and lowest comparisons<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  cost of living<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Pensions<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Pensioners<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Euronews Compare<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2907037-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2907037\" data-cid=\"9824280\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2907037-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/42\/80\/320x180_cmsv2_17100f35-ed7f-57fd-ba7d-403304330003-9824280.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, left, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron during a Euro Summit working dinner in Brussels, October 2025.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2906567-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906567\" data-cid=\"9821639\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where are the wealthiest young people in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article 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alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2852684-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2852684\" data-cid=\"9574771\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2852684-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/47\/71\/480x270_cmsv2_12af317f-8730-598d-92a9-a8e89ee68cab-9574771.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man holding a placard reading in Spanish: &quot;Rajoy thief, you stole my pension&quot; walks in the rain during a protest by pensioners in Madrid. 17 March, 2018.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Retirees in Europe: Which countries offer the highest pensions?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2804100-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2804100\" data-cid=\"9302664\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2804100-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/30\/26\/64\/480x270_cmsv2_9723a990-1940-5bd9-a628-5c8f846ef34e-9302664.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Population illustration - file photo.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe\u2019s rising retirement ages: One country leads\u2014which will follow?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2751922-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2751922\" data-cid=\"9046528\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2751922-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/04\/65\/28\/480x270_cmsv2_9e13d999-6558-566f-bc0f-08c4b07cbbf8-9046528.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There is a wide discrepancy throughout the EU as far as pensions are concerned\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pensions vs earnings across Europe: The highest and lowest comparisons<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2907037-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 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data-nid=\"2906791\" data-cid=\"9822948\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906791-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/29\/48\/320x180_cmsv2_78ce9714-0e4e-50c9-9710-7bdfdec86787-9822948.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"CMA CGM Notre Dame\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    World&#8217;s largest LNG container ship enters Asia-Europe service<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906567-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906567\" data-cid=\"9821639\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906567-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/58\/52\/17\/320x180_cmsv2_cadfa3d9-7c6a-5858-982b-557bf83354b2-9585217.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Euro banknote\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where are the wealthiest young people in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906911-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906911\" data-cid=\"9823566\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906911-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/35\/66\/320x180_cmsv2_44df3934-cebf-598e-947d-25ba4cbde33c-9823566.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Specialist Glenn Carell and Dilip Patel work with trader Jeffrey Vazquez on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, 26 June 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Asian stocks rally after Dow sets fresh record<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906762-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906762\" data-cid=\"9822749\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2906762-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/27\/49\/320x180_cmsv2_b5483316-350d-5c08-b972-7f33196e03ac-9822749.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. A job seeker waits to talk to a recruiter at a job fair in Sunrise, Florida, Aug. 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US job growth plummets as eurozone unemployment holds at record low<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906567-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906567\" data-cid=\"9821639\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where are the wealthiest young people in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906648-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906648\" data-cid=\"9822073\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain jobless rate at 2008 low, foreign employment hits record<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906791-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906791\" data-cid=\"9822948\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    World&#8217;s largest LNG container ship enters Asia-Europe service<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2906443-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2906443\" data-cid=\"9820920\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Google ordered to pay Klarna \u20ac1.7 billion over search abuse<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904805-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904805\" data-cid=\"9812928\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where do workers lose the biggest share of their salaries in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Pension income is lower than late-career earnings across European countries. In the EU, a person who earned \u20ac100 between the ages of 50 and 59 would receive \u20ac58 in pension income between the ages of 65 and 74 in 2023, according to Eurostat.This makes it difficult for many older people to maintain their standard of living after retirement. Nearly one in six pensioners are at risk of poverty in the EU.Several pensioners continue to work after retirement. Their reasons vary. The main reason is enjoying work and remaining productive (36.3%), but financial necessity (28.6%) is also a major driver.\u00a0So, in which countries do retired people continue to work after receiving an old-age pension? And in which European countries is financial necessity the biggest driver?In 2023, the most recent data available as of 2026, 12.9% of people in the EU continued working during the six months following receipt of their first old-age pension.\u00a0This varies widely across Europe, ranging from 1.7% in Romania to 54.9% in Estonia, according to Eurostat.The share continuing to work is also above two in five in Latvia (44.2%), Lithuania (43.7%) and Sweden (41.7%). Two other Nordic countries follow this top group, with Cyprus (29.7%) sitting in the middle: Norway (37.7%) and Finland (28.5%).Besides Romania (1.7%), the share is significantly low in Greece (4.2%), Spain (4.5%) and Croatia (5%).\u201cGreece used to have a very strict stance against working pensioners. This, with the encouragement of the crisis, pension cuts and pension reform softened,\u201d Professor Platon Tinios from Piraeus University told Euronews Business.He added that a major policy change in 2022 led to a sharp rise in registered working pensioners. However, this rise is not captured in the data, as it came after the second half of 2023.In several countries, financial necessity is the main reason to continue working. Among those who continued working, the share citing financial necessity ranges from 9.4% in Sweden to 68.5% in Cyprus.\u201cOf course, wherever people say they are working for financial necessity, it means they feel their pension income is inadequate,\u201d\u00a0 Dr Olga Rajevska from Riga Stradins University told Euronews Business.\u201cA high proportion of these answers suggests the pension system in the respective countries is inadequate and unable to provide sufficient income.\u201dIn Romania (54.3%) and Bulgaria (53.6%), more than half said they kept working out of financial necessity. It is also above one in three in Croatia (48.2%), Latvia (47.9%), Portugal (39%), Hungary (38.1%), France (37.7%) and Germany (35.8%).Among the EU&#8217;s four largest economies, Spain has the lowest rate at 19.6%. Italy (29.7%) is just above the EU average.At the bottom, Norway (9.8%) closely follows Sweden (9.4%). In Czechia and Luxembourg, the share of pensioners continuing to work out of financial necessity remains below 15%.How many pensioners work because they have toWhen the share of pensioners working after retirement is combined with the share citing financial necessity as their main reason, it reveals the overall share of pensioners working out of financial necessity.\u00a0This stands at 3.7% in the EU, ranging from 0.9% in Romania to 21.2% in Latvia across Europe.Cyprus (20.3%) is also above one in five while Estonia (17.3%) and Lithuania (%) are in double digits.\u00a0\u201cIn the Baltic states, the primary factor is the financial necessity to continue working because pensions in these countries are far below the European average,\u201d Rajevska said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs long as people are able to work, they continue to do so simply to earn enough for a decent standard of living.\u201dIn Bulgaria (8.9%), Hungary (7.7%) and Slovakia (7.5%), at least 7.5% of all pensioners continue to work due to financial necessity.Among major economies, Germany has the highest rate at 4.5% whereas France (3.7%) matches the EU average.\u00a0Spain (1%) has the lowest share of pensioners working out of financial necessity. Italy (2.8%) is also below the EU average.Retirees are healthier and better educated than beforeProfessor K\u00e8ne Henkens from the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) noted that in countries with poor pensions, people are more likely to continue working. But in countries with good pensions, an increase in post-retirement work is also seen. There are several important reasons for this.\u00a0\u201cRetirees are healthier and higher educated than before and, as a result, have a stronger connection to the labour market.\u201d he told Euronews Business.\u201cYou see in the Eurostat figures that most of the working retirees work for pleasure and social integration.\u201dChanging normsHe pointed out that this development is reinforced by changing norms about post-retirement work within companies.\u00a0\u201cIn the Netherlands, for example, we can clearly see employers becoming more positive about employing workers beyond retirement age. This also has to do with changing demography and enduring labour shortages. Retirees are seen as a pool of additional labour supply,\u201d he said.\u00a0Many may want to work but cannot find itHenkens warned that many pensioners in poorer countries may want to work but cannot find employment. He emphasised that for this reason, the figures cover only those already working. The number of retirees involuntarily out of work may also vary significantly by country.Tinios also noted that the possibility of pensioners working is an important component of an active ageing strategy, adding flexibility to ease the transition from full-time work to full-time retirement. It also allows society to benefit from the skills of older citizens while helping fill labour market gaps caused by demographic factors.Financial necessity is a relative conceptProfessor Lauri Leppik from Tallinn University pointed out that &#8216;financial necessity&#8217; is a relative concept, which does not necessarily relate to the absolute amount of the public pension.\u00a0He underlined that while economic motives &#8211; financial need or the desire to supplement a public pension with earnings from work &#8211; are relevant factors behind the phenomenon of working pensioners, the link between pension adequacy and employment at pension age is not straightforward, but somewhat more nuanced.\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/07\/03\/retired-but-still-working-where-in-europe-is-financial-necessity-the-biggest-reason&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/82\/34\/32\/1200x675_cmsv2_62816e93-7e19-519c-a3a1-d09c0324c97b-9823432.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Von der Leyen: EU will hit back if China misses October trade deadline Europe News EU blacklists six people involved in Navalny assassination No Comment Humanoid robots showcase football skills Pakistan At least 40 killed after bus plunges into ravine in southwest Pakistan Europe News Von der Leyen: EU will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2026444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2026444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2026444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2026444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2026444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}