Work Till You Drop? Half of Gen Z Expect to Work Into Their 70s

A new nationwide poll by people2people has uncovered striking generational divides in retirement expectations, and a confronting truth for younger Australians - many don't believe they'll ever retire. The findings also shed light on a troubling rise in age discrimination within the hiring process.

The survey, conducted in April 2025, found that only 7% of Gen Z and 8% of Millennials believe they'll ever be able to retire, compared to 21% of Gen X and Baby Boomers. The outlook is so grim that 3 in 5 Australians don't believe younger generations will ever retire, with over 70% of Gen Z and Millennials agreeing.

Half of Gen Z workers believe they will have to work until at least 70, with 38% expecting to work into their mid-70s or later. This is in contrast to just 22% of Gen X and Baby Boomers, who believe they'll still be working into their 70s.

Despite the growing expectation of working longer, around a third of Australians across all generations still hope to exit the workforce before the age of 65—including Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and Gen Z—when asked what they believe is a realistic age to stop working. However, expectations of what's realistic paint a different picture:

• 50% of Australians say retiring before 65 is realistic.
• 32% believe 65-69 is more likely.
• 17% expect to work into their 70s or beyond.

Suhini Wijayasinghe, Head of HR Solutions at people2people, says the data should be a wake-up call.

"Younger generations aren't just adjusting expectations—they're preparing for the reality of working longer. But if we expect people to work into their 70s, we have to fix the structural issues that stand in the way, especially ageism."

The poll reveals that 9 in 10 (89%) Australians believe employers rarely or never hire people near or past retirement age, with a third indicating that people over 65 have virtually no chance of being hired. This is despite growing demand for skilled workers and a shrinking younger workforce.

Age discrimination has long plagued Australian hiring practices, and the consequences are serious. Older jobseekers face longer periods of unemployment, greater difficulty re-entering the workforce, and limited access to upskilling or career transitions. Meanwhile, employers lose out on valuable experience, mentorship, and workforce stability.

"We have an ageing population and a declining birth rate," adds Wijayasinghe. "Inaction on age inclusion isn't just unfair—it's economically unsustainable. Creating age-inclusive workplaces is no longer optional. It's a strategic imperative."

As the workforce evolves, so must employer mindsets. Ending ageism isn't just about ticking boxes—it's about fostering inclusive cultures where employees of all ages can thrive, contribute, and feel genuinely valued.

About people2people: people2people is an Australasian recruitment company built on an established reputation for providing professional and personalised recruitment services since early 2005. At people2people recruitment, their focus is on identifying potential today to build careers and businesses of tomorrow. Recruitment expertise includes accounting & finance, business support, executive, government, human resources, legal, marketing & digital, property, sales, supply chain management and technology. 

For further information or interview requests, please contact:  Lisa Solomons @ 360 PR | e: lisa@360pr.com.au | p: 0416 175 518