A recent Workforce Management article has confirmed what Top Echelon Contracting already knew and has reported numerous times: older workers want to ease into retirement.

The article cites a recent survey in which 65 percent of the older workers polled stated they would like to do some work during retirement.  This is especially true of the younger respondents between ages 55 and 64, 77 percent of whom stated they would like to continue working in retirement.  Fifty-six percent of those over 65 also stated they don't want to give up work entirely.

Many older workers were hit hard by the stock market crash and are not able to retire. Others simply want to continue to stay busy and make themselves useful.

This has fueled the retiree re-staffing trend we have been reporting on over the past couple of years.  In this scenario, companies bring in retired workers on a contract basis.  Companies like this because they can retain or gain the knowledge and experience of a dependable worker without committing to a direct-hire. Meanwhile, retirees love working on contract because of the flexibility it provides so they can enjoy hobbies and additional time with family. As the population of older workers continues to increase, this is a trend that is likely just getting started!

Debbie Fledderjohann is the President of Top Echelon Contracting, Inc.