19.08.2025
More and more people are discovering that reaching retirement age doesn’t necessarily mean the end of their professional life. Continuing to work after retirement is widespread in Switzerland and is a megatrend that is permanently changing the labour market. This article is aimed at anyone who would like to continue working in “retirement” – whether for pleasure or financial reasons.
There are many reasons why people decide to continue working after retirement: for some, it’s financial necessity; for others, it’s the enjoyment of working, a desire to participate in society or the motivation to try something new. Not all retirees find it easy to stop working completely from one day to the next. And of course, you can only continue working if your health allows it.
According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, around one in four women and one in three men in Switzerland remains in work after the age of 65. How these figures will evolve in the future will be interesting to see. But one thing is clear: demographic change is well underway. Our society is ageing and staying healthy for longer. This development, known as the silver society , is having an impact on the labour market: there is potential for more and more people to remain in active employment, even during their retirement.
According to the forecast by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, the number of people aged 65 and over will increase by 860,000 between 2025 and 2055.
There are countless ways besides work to make this phase of your life fulfilling. If you’re looking for inspiration for hobbies, travel or volunteering, you’ll find a wide range of ideas in our article “Actively shape your retirement”.
Whatever your plans, it’s advisable to start looking at your finances when you reach the age of 50. Why not do this with our experts?
Are you thinking about continuing to work after retirement? Before you tell your current employer or start looking for a new job, it’s worth reflecting honestly on your situation. The following questions can help you to gain a clearer picture of your goals and wishes for working after retirement.
These questions are not exhaustive − you can add more depending on your individual situation.
Take advantage of training opportunities to keep your knowledge up to date. This will help you to stay fit for the labour market even after you reach official retirement age. Find out more in the article “Lifelong learning: the professional skills of the future”.
Charley Collins is 67 years old and works in IT at PostFinance. He’s still a long way from thinking about retirement. With 43 years of professional experience behind him, the software developer still has big plans for the future: alongside his main job at PostFinance, he is also setting up his own coaching practice.
Firstly, the financial aspect: I had to give up my business after 15 years of self-employment because I lost several customers at once. By continuing to work, I can improve my retirement benefits. Secondly, I enjoy my work. I joined PostFinance six years ago as an external employee and was later hired on a permanent basis. Even then, I said I would like to work beyond retirement age. I made a big impact in my role as architecture owner, working on an important project. I then reduced my workload and am programming more now, which I particularly enjoy. Parallel to this, I’m also developing a coaching practice, as I want to continue using my training for a few more years – at least until I’m 75. I can’t imagine retiring at the moment. As long as I’m healthy and feel fit, I want to stay active for a few more years. I just find it exciting to be able to make a difference. I’ve agreed with my leaders that I will stop working at 70 at the latest.
It was never a big deal. I meet up with former school friends now and again, and some of them are still working, too, either as freelancers or in permanent positions. Others are taking it easy after retiring or going travelling. Age and retirement are very individual topics. People who have had physically demanding jobs for a long time, for example, probably won’t be able to continue doing that kind of work later in life. Others are still fit enough to work a few years longer. That makes it all the more important for companies and politicians to offer greater flexibility when it comes to retirement, with an emphasis on personal situations and needs. And, in my opinion, intergenerational equity towards young people should also play a bigger role in future.
No, quite the opposite. Likely because I don’t currently feel the need to go travelling or to sit back and do nothing.
Make sure to check your employment contract carefully. Many contracts expire automatically once you reach the reference age. I had a permanent contract, so I could continue working without any problems. I also recommend being aware of your own value in the company: older employees often bring valuable experience and specialist knowledge. This should also be reflected in your employment conditions – particularly your salary. In my opinion, automatic salary reductions should be reconsidered.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for continuing to work in retirement. As life situations, interests and resources in later life differ from person to person, it’s worth carefully considering the various models for continuing employment. This will allow you to take account of both your financial and your personal needs and to find a working model that suits you.
After retirement, you have the option of continuing to work for your current employer in a modified form or starting a new job at another company. You may want to continue working as before, or you could consider one of the following options:
Important note: If you want to apply to a new company, it’s important to update your application documents. You can find suitable positions via conventional job platforms, specialized job sites for senior citizens, your professional or private network, offices that recruit for temporary positions, or unsolicited applications.
The link will open in a new window Go to the platform seniors@work
The link will open in a new window Go to the platform rentarentner.ch
If you want to earn extra money after retirement but without any fixed commitments, on a case-by-case basis and with flexible time management, you can also offer your expertise on the labour market as a freelancer.
The link will open in a new window Find out more about freelancing at sme.admin.ch
It’s not too late to start your own company: maybe you previously provided services for your employer, advised customers or carried out manual tasks, and you’d like to offer your expertise as a coach, consultant or tradesperson via your company. Or perhaps you’d like to turn a longstanding hobby into your job – for example, by becoming a creative course leader or opening a small online shop.
Volunteering is an opportunity to contribute your own experience and time in a social context. It encourages social contact and enables you to stay active – beyond your professional commitments. Volunteering can be a rewarding way to continue working, especially as you make the transition from the world of work to a new phase of life.
Find out more in the blog post “More than just filling your free time – volunteering in retirement”
In principle, people can work in Switzerland for as long as they want. However, you should be aware of the conditions that apply to OASI, pension funds and pillar 3a. Sort out these issues ahead of time. They may also have an impact on the amount of tax you have to pay.
If you want to continue working after retirement, you should prepare thoroughly and in good time. This is the only way to ensure optimal planning of your legal and financial situation – such as deferring your OASI benefits. By running through various scenarios and weighing up their pros and cons, you’ll gain a clear picture of your options and lay the foundations for a fulfilling working life after retirement.
