Retirement age is a rather explosive topic. It is now on the table in Germany, where there is talk of people working until they are 70. Honestly. I am 35 years old and the idea of working for another 35 years is not entirely pleasant. I cannot imagine how I would keep up with all the new things that are thrown at us. And at that age, will I even have the strength to last a full shift?

The reason is simple.

In Germany, a large generation is currently retiring and fewer and fewer young people are contributing to the pension fund. At the same time, life expectancy is steadily increasing. According to Tagesschau, there are currently about 2.1 workers for every one pensioner in Germany. However, it is going to get worse. Without reforms, pensions risk falling. Of course, this problem is not only in Germany; other countries in Europe have to tackle it too. The solution is not easy and certainly not popular.

Working until 70

One reform in Germany could significantly extend working life. Retirement at seventy is on the agenda of the Pensions Commission, and as early as 23 February, experts led by social law professor Constanze Janda from the University of Spier will discuss raising the retirement age.

The reform has been discussed in Germany for some time. Unfortunately, the current coalition cannot yet agree on the wording. The young elected members of the Christian Democratic Union are complicating the negotiations. They are saying that the forthcoming reform is inadequate and costly. They also talk about the excessive burden on the younger generation

━━ ( Source: Abi Howard /  Unsplash+ )

They don’t want to work until they’re 70

People in Germany don’t want to work past the age of 70. “I can’t believe people are serious about this.” One discussant wrote on the Reddit platform. He said several EU countries have followed Germany’s lead and raised the retirement age to 67, only to lower it again to 65. People were actually upset by the news. The main reason, he said, is that it is not easy to find a job at an older age.

Although some companies complain that they have no employees, he said they will avoid hiring people over 60. The reason, he said, is clear. Older people have less energy. “I hope that if Friedrich Merz ever has a medical emergency, his ambulance will be manned by people in their seventies and his emergency room doctor will also be in his seventies and will have had a bad night with little sleep,” he wrote in conclusion.

Why at seventy

According to Martin Werding, an economist and member of the Pensions Commission, the retirement age should be linked to life expectancy. It is for this reason that it should be gradually increased. From 2031, it should increase by six months every ten years. According to Werding’s calculations, an increase in the retirement age to 70 would not be necessary before 2091.

However, the retirement age is currently being increased according to a different model. The retirement age has not yet been raised in Germany. However, if the increase in the retirement age were to continue as it is now, i.e. by two months a year, the first to retire at 70 would be people born in 1982. That is, people who are now over forty.