{"id":454768,"date":"2026-05-18T11:28:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/454768\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T11:28:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:28:12","slug":"why-some-retirees-are-getting-fired-from-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/454768\/","title":{"rendered":"Why some retirees are getting ‘fired’ from retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Write to us at startingpoint@globe.com<\/a>. To subscribe, sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve put in decades of work and thought you were ready to spend more time traveling, enjoying your partner, hanging out by the sea or in the country \u2014 or volunteering when you want to.<\/p>\n

But going back to the grind? Many retirees are moving that way, even in a tough job market. A New York Times report<\/a> says financial need is the main motivator to get \u201cfired from retirement,\u201d particularly as costs like gas are up 50 percent in recent months, and amid jumps in supermarket staples like beef and coffee. Plus, many older Americans fear inflation will eat into their savings.<\/p>\n

Are these uncertainties keeping the 37 percent of the labor force over 55 in jobs longer than they would like? Or has there been a jump in older returnees? Or both?<\/p>\n

Boston College economist Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, who tracks \u201cunretirement\u201d as a fellow at the Center for Retirement Research, has a few insights. <\/p>\n

One is that unretirees are \u201cdisproportionately Black, Hispanic, and especially living in multigenerational families where cash needs are higher.\u201d A second sign, however, involves early indications that older New Englanders are going back to work at a slightly higher percentage than the US overall, although its not clear if they \u201cneed\u201d or just \u201cwant\u201d to.<\/p>\n

David Beard: Some retirees find out that retirement isn\u2019t for them and return to work for a bit \u2014 what\u2019s different now?<\/p>\n

Geoffrey Sanzenbacher: I would say that while unretirement rates today are elevated relative to immediately post-COVID, they remain roughly in line with the rates since 2022. What\u2019s surprising is that this rate of unretirement is happening at a time when the rate of job openings has dropped to post-COVID lows. So, people are unretiring at a typical rate but at a time when its harder to find jobs. Certainly, this could suggest some element of need, since those unretiring are likely doing more work to find employment. <\/p>\n

David: Do the returnees cite as reasons things like the rise in prices for gas, foodstuffs, healthcare contributions?<\/p>\n

Geoff: An ARRP survey<\/a> found that the majority of people cited financial pressures as a main reason that they returned to work, although the sample was somewhat small. I think in anecdotal evidence I have seen, the cost of healthcare and the need to help family comes up a lot. <\/p>\n

Is New England an outlier in any part of this national trend?<\/p>\n

If you look since 2024, there is very limited evidence (read non-statistically significant) that New Englanders ages 55-64 (in prime unretirement age) are unretiring at higher rates than non-New Englanders (8.3 versus 5.9 percent). If you look at the overall rate for those 55+, you actually see significantly higher rates in New England as well (3.0 versus 2.2 percent). Not huge differences, but something. <\/p>\n

New Englanders who unretire are more educated and whiter than folks in the rest of the country, but this likely reflects demographics.<\/p>\n

\"ManyMany older Americans fear inflation will eat into their savings.Nam Y. Huh\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udde9 3 Down: Seizes<\/a> | \u2600\ufe0f 74\u00b0 Slightly cooler<\/a><\/p>\n

NIMBY this! Massachusetts towns are fighting back against attempts to build new water- and energy-sucking AI and data centers in their communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wellesley killings: Kai and his little sister Ella played in a world decorated with hearts and rainbows<\/a>, their heartbroken father said at a service for the slain youngsters.<\/p>\n

Same demo: They\u2019re both Marines, 40-somethings, and waging generational fights. So why aren\u2019t Seth Moulton and Graham Platner allies<\/a>? Is it more than tattoo choices? Plus, this Congressman has been AWOL since early March. Where is he<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Iran war: A drone struck the edge of a nuclear plant<\/a> in the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n

Prayer: A Trump-backed prayer festival on National Mall drew thousands. Critics say the event sought to erase America\u2019s constitutional line between church and state. (WashPost<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Judge vs. Trump: A former federal immigration judge in Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that he was unlawfully fired last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bruce Springsteen: Ahead of the Boss\u2019s weekend concert in town, Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld recalls the day the Boss sent HIM a fan letter. And then another one<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Trumpsonian: A new New York city destination, the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, features the entire Epstein files released so far<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Kars4Kids: California is barring ads by a donate-your-car charity purportedly for kids that funds adult matchmaking services and trips abroad. A judge ruled the charity violated laws against false advertising and unfair competition<\/a> \u2014 and found few instances of it using the donations to help kids in California. <\/p>\n

\"WandaWanda Sykes in Hampton, Virginia during the filming of “Legacy.”CLIFTON PRESCOD\/NETFLIX<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa This week\u2019s TV: A Wanda Sykes comedy special, Tatiana Maslany in \u201cMaximum Pleasure Guaranteed,\u201d and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\ud83e\udd9e Who says Maine is expensive? Why take a $100 day-trip on a boat when you can pay $14? It\u2019s possible to do America\u2019s Vacationland on the cheap.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfe0 Home of the Week: Peek inside this two-bedroom condo minutes from Roslindale Square for $575,000<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udd7f\ufe0f Everybody makes mistakes: The town of Hull will be sending out new parking permits after the printer misspelled a key word<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2196\ufe0f Cartoon: How the \u201cLost Transcendentalist\u201d made her way back to Concord.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb6 Eurovision winner: No, Europe\u2019s best song this year wasn\u2019t from Iceland, Ireland, Israel, or Italy. Yes, the winning nation was ruled for 33 years by a dictator named Todor Zhivkov. Which country? Here\u2019s the answer \u2014 and the song<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading Starting Point.<\/p>\n

This newsletter was edited by Heather Ciras<\/a> and produced by Ryan Orlecki<\/a>. Today\u2019s soundtrack is \u201cJaja Ding Dong<\/a>,\u201d by Will Farrell and Molly Sand\u00e9n, from \u201cEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u2753 Have a question for the team? Email us at startingpoint@globe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u270d\ud83c\udffc If someone sent you this newsletter, you can sign up for your own copy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcec Delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n

Dave Beard can be reached at dave.beard@gmail.com<\/a>. Follow him on X @dabeard<\/a>.<\/p>\n