Labour Force Survey Reveals Employees Working for Longer

The Central Statistics Office’s latest Labour Force Survey has revealed that people aged 55 and over, represented around 20% of the labour force in Q2 2026. This is almost double the figure in 2000.

The Q2 statistics also revealed that people aged 65 and over are continuing to work beyond the traditional retirement age of 65. Since 2022, employment among over 65s is up by almost 30%.

This trend is a reflection of Ireland’s aging population and also reveals a strong appetite for longer working as older workers seek to remain in the workforce.

What does this mean for Organisations?

From a compliance perspective, Organisations must prepare for an increasing number of requests for longer working. The Government has also recently introduced the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 which provides a new statutory right for eligible Employees with a contractual retirement age of 65 or under to remain in employment until the State Pension Age, currently 66, if they wish to do so.

Organisations should therefore take time to review their retirement policies, employment contracts and procedures to ensure they reflect the new requirements. They should also consider how requests to work beyond a contractual retirement age will be managed consistently and fairly,

The changing profile of the Irish workforce means that retirement can no longer be viewed simply as a fixed date in an Employee’s career. For Organisations, the focus should be on creating a compliant and sustainable approach to longer working, while recognising the significant value that experienced Employees can continue to bring to the workplace.

With an ageing workforce and an evolving legislative framework, Organisations that plan proactively will be better placed to retain skills, manage workforce change and meet their employment law obligations.

How Adare Can Help

Need support with evolving employment law compliance obligations or a review of your retirement processes? Contact us today to discuss how we can support your Organisation.