Pension funds: the number of working pensioners has risen to 130,000 over the past twenty years
The Adepp survey was presented yesterday; 7.8 per cent of active members are already retired
The phenomenon of active pensioners is on the rise in the regulated professions. Over the past twenty years, from 2005 to 2024, the number of people choosing to continue working after retirement has tripled, rising from 42,088 to 130,077; in 11 out of 19 pension schemes, the proportion of pensioners who continue to work exceeds 40 per cent of pensioners, and in six it exceeds 50 per cent.
However, this phenomenon is not uniform across the country; the regions in the North and Centre have a higher proportion of working pensioners (around 10 per cent), with the exception of Basilicata, which ranks among the highest, whilst in the South and on the islands the proportion is around 6 per cent.
This is evident from the administrative data provided by the pension funds and from the questionnaire sent out by Adepp, the association representing 19 private pension schemes, to which around 22,000 retired self-employed professionals who are still working responded. However, this is not a statistical sample; 55 per cent of the responses came from doctors registered with Enpam and from engineers and architects registered with Inarcassa, whilst 85 per cent of the responses were from male professionals.
Reasons and income
The three main reasons given by those who decide to remain in work are: passion for their profession (29.6 per cent), financial necessity (23.8 per cent) and an active social role (21.7 per cent). For many, their workload has been reduced, although 36 per cent still work full-time.
Income from employment is lower than before retirement in 53 per cent of cases, stable in 37 per cent and higher in 10 per cent, whilst well-being compared with before retirement is unchanged for 53 per cent of respondents, has improved for 27 per cent and worsened for 20 per cent.
