Over one fifth of workers over the age of 45 are considering taking up voluntary work after they retire, according to a new MORI poll.

Dubbed ‘returnment’, an increasing number of the population are considering continuing in some type of work following retirement at 65. The MORI poll found that 31% of respondents felt it was important to be meaningfully employed beyond their retirement age, with 35% saying they would go back to work to continue using and applying skills they had learned. Both statistics rose to 40% and 48% respectively among 45-50 year olds.

Commenting on the poll, Karen Wisdom, research director at Ipsos MORI, said: “We would encourage the charity and voluntary sectors to tap into the experience and skills retirees can offer them. Returnment is definitely a growing trend and it is great to see that so many on the cusp of retirement are looking at these sectors for their next or second careers.”