Britain’s ‘great unretirement’: cost of living drives older people back to work

ONS data supports the notion that the figures reflects those coming out of retirement, rather than simply continuing to look for work. Photograph: Alistair Berg/Getty Images

Spiralling inflation, volatile financial markets and the soaring cost of living are leading to the “great unretirement”, with research suggesting retired people are returning to the workplace.

There are now more people aged 50 and older in work or looking for work than since just before the pandemic, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).