How has the pandemic changed people’s retirement plans?

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

SEVEN IN 10 (71%) AMERICANS SAY THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THEIR TARGET RETIREMENT AGE.

A NEW POLL OF 2,000 ADULTS AGES 35–70 DISCOVERED THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ON HOW EMPLOYEES ARE PLANNING BOTH THEIR RETIREMENT AND “PRETIREMENT” – OR WORK TO RETIREMENT TRANSITION PERIOD.

IN FACT, RESULTS SHOW MORE THAN NINE OUT OF 10 WORKERS SAY THEY’RE OPEN TO SWITCHING FIELDS OR JOBS DURING PRETIREMENT.

THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL AND HUMAN INTEREST, A PROVIDER OF 401(K) AND 403(B) PLANS.

THE PANDEMIC CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT MANY MAKE THEIR RETIREMENT DECISIONS — HOW THEY SAVE (31%), WHAT THEY WANT TO DO (31%) AND WHEN THEY WANT TO RETIRE (29%). 

TOP FOUR STATES PEOPLE WANT TO RETIRE TO: 

1. California
2. Florida
3. New York
4. Georgia

GETTING AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY: 

• 1 in 5 people want to move further away from their children when they retire. 
• 17% say they will be splitting from their spouse or partner in retirement.

TOP 4 GOALS IN RETIREMENT: 

1. Write a book, start a podcast, or achieve another creative accomplishment - 38%
2. Explore my city or state - 36%
3. Learn and start playing a new sport, run in a race, or take up yoga - 34%
4. Live in a vacation destination for a while - 34%

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,002 Americans ages 35–70 was commissioned by Human Interest between September 26 and October 4, 2022. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).