ORLANDO, Fla. — Retirees often flock to Florida due, in part, to the lack of state income tax and sunshine.

But retirement doesn’t look the same for everyone anymore, and many older adults are rewriting what it really means.

What You Need To Know

Experts say more retirees are returning to work, with workforce participation rising sharply in recent years
They say financial pressures like inflation and limited savings are major drivers
Some retirees say they also choose to work to stay mentally active and maintain purpose
Data shows that retirement is increasingly becoming a flexible phase rather than a permanent exit from work

More retirees are retiring from retirement, a growing trend that reflects shifting financial realities and personal priorities.

For some, like 76-year-old Mitch Stein, retirement isn’t about slowing down, it’s about supplementing income. So, he started working for DoorDash.

“I can see myself dashing long term,” he said. “I applied for all types of jobs — nobody wants to hire a 76-year-old guy for any kind of long-term, and it costs money to hire somebody.”

But money isn’t the only driving force for retirees who decided to reenter the workforce.

“I’m only 67, so for me, my brain, I don’t even want to think about retirement,” said Kim Gabriel, Senior Caregiver with Seniors Helping Seniors.

She said that for her, working is about purpose.

“I do have a passion to keep seniors in their homes and being independent as long as they can.” Gabriel said.

Stein and Gabriel are not alone — the number of retirement-age Americans in the workforce is growing. According to Resume Builder, in 2020 it was 5%, but by 2024, that number jumped to 22%.

“Inflation is ramped, and it is a retirement destroyer and killer if we don’t have a plan for it.” said Oxford Advisory Group co-founder Christopher Dixon.

Dixon said rising costs and lack of savings are driving the shift for many. But for others, it’s not just about money.

“Some people just like to work,” Dixon said. “(It) keeps their mental faculties strong. Gives them a little edge to them.”