Retirement Redefined: Men Thrive by Continuing to Work Past 67

According to a study conducted in 2025, men who continue working past the age of 67 are finding greater satisfaction and wellbeing in this stage of life compared to those who have retired. The researchers analyzed data on over 5,000 men and women above retirement age and found that men working full-time after 67 reported higher life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing, regardless of their job type.

In contrast, retirement-aged women only experienced increased life satisfaction if they continued working in high-status, well-paid positions. The researchers from the University of Haifa in Israel suggest that postponing retirement could even help promote healthy aging, as work provides both financial and non-financial benefits such as social engagement, identity, and self-esteem.

The researchers note that this gender difference could be attributed to traditional gender roles, where work is a more central component of men's self-identity compared to women, who may find meaning and satisfaction through other roles. As the UK state pension age is expected to rise to 67 in the coming years, the findings indicate that encouraging continued work past retirement age could be beneficial for men's overall wellbeing.