Most Boomers Plan to Keep on Working

Rocking chairs and travel aren’t in the picture. Instead, when baby boomers envision retirement, they see . . . work, a new poll finds.

Eight of 10 members of America’s largest generation ever say they plan to keep working at least part time after they retire, according to a poll released Tuesday at the opening of the American Assn. of Retired Persons 40th anniversary convention here.

That compares with just 12% of people over 65--a common retirement age--who are in the work force now.

“That’s going to imply some very dramatic changes that may have to happen in the workplace,” said John Rother, AARP’s director of public policy.

Rother said the nation’s largest senior citizens group is already trying to persuade large employers to invest in training to keep their older workers up to date.

The influential lobbying group also is pondering changes in tax, health insurance and other employment laws that could make it easier for older people to work longer.

“What we’re seeing here is a little preview of the policy agenda coming--not just for AARP but in terms of expectations for Congress,” Rother said.

The group’s telephone survey of 2,001 Americans born between 1946 and 1964 found that about a third say it is mainly for the enjoyment of it that they want to work part time after they retire.

Five percent plan to retire from their present job but try a new full-time career and 17% want to start their own business.

About a quarter of boomers say they don’t expect to be able to retire at all and will work because they’ll need the money just to get by.