There’s no doubt about it – there’s an increasing trend of retirees returning to the workforce, with anywhere between 14–20% of those aged over 55 coming back to work. Searches for ‘Jobs for retirees’ and ‘Jobs for pensioners’ are very much on the rise, and may even be what led you to this post.
But why is this happening?
We’ll explore that in greater detail below, but nearly a third (32%) of those over-55s looking for work are doing so to cope with the cost of living crisis we find ourselves in, and 24% because they don’t believe their pension provides for a decent standard of living.
Another reason is purely for the mental stimulation – to avoid boredom. The State Pension retirement age in the UK is currently 66. With modern healthcare as it is, many individuals are living well into their 80s, sometimes longer, and many of them simply need something to do to keep their brains active. In fact, just shy of two thirds (62%) of retirees said that their reason for continuing to work was for that mental stimulation.
Luckily, there are plenty of options out there when it comes to retirement jobs, particularly those which offer greater flexibility for retirees who want to stay physically and mentally active, but can’t quite stretch to the rigours of a full-time role.
Temporary or part-time jobs for pensioners are freely available across a number of different platforms, offering the chance to earn an income and stay mentally sharp while not being tied to typical 9 – 5 hours.
And these jobs are available all over the country, whether you’re looking for good part-time jobs for pensioners in London, Manchester, or Glasgow.
So, read on, as we’re about to explore just why retirees should consider temporary work and discuss the 8 best jobs for retirees.
Why should retirees consider temporary work?
One of the main reasons retirees are looking to return to the workforce is fairly obvious – finances… or rather, for greater financial stability. It may be that by the official UK retirement age of 66, they simply haven’t accrued enough money in their State Pension pot and/or their private pension pot to be able to live comfortably and cover all their expenses.
In fact, the need for an additional income was found to be the primary motivation for returning to work for those aged 50–54, with a whopping 69% citing financial reasons. Part-time jobs for pensioners can provide that financial stability that they seek and give them the ability to plan ahead better, particularly when benefits such as Instant Pay are available.
Finances aside, there are also the social and mental health benefits of returning to work, for retirees. Retirement jobs can provide social interaction and mental stimulation, which retirees would miss if staying at home. In almost all jobs for pensioners, there would be a number of colleagues to interact with, which would help to combat the loneliness that affects many retirees.
And it should be considered that retirees have accumulated a lifetime of valuable skills and experience, possibly across various sectors and roles, that can be beneficial to employers. In turn, retirees themselves may well feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction at putting these skills back into action.
So, that’s why retirees may consider returning to the workforce, but what about the type of jobs that might suit them?
Temporary jobs offer a good solution, giving retirees the flexibility that allows them to balance work with other commitments they may have. There are plenty of part-time jobs for pensioners available, and not just jobs, but good part-time jobs for pensioners.
And to prove the point, we’ve compiled a handy list of 8 flexible retirement jobs suitable for retirees who want to both supplement their income and stay physically and mentally active.
1. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping is the ideal option for retirees or pensioners with financial or accounting experience, allowing them to contribute to businesses in a meaningful way. They can quickly adapt to the role without extensive retraining, allowing them to naturally transition into it. And they can also get to grips with tasks that will be familiar to them, which bookkeeping typically involves, such as reconciling accounts, tracking expenses, and managing invoices.
Skills needed for this role: to take on a retirement job as a bookkeeper, you’ll need sound knowledge of accounting principles, strong attention to detail, to ensure accuracy, strong organisational and communication skills (if, for example, dealing with clients), and proficiency in certain accounting software, such as Xero or QuickBooks.
Benefits:
- The ability to work remotely or on a part-time basis, fitting many retirees’ schedules.
- The nature of bookkeeping keeps the mind active and engaged.
- Utilising existing skills – most bookkeepers come from an accounting/finance background.
- Routine, structured tasks make for a low-stress working environment.
- Minimal setup costs – a computer, accounting software, WiFi connection.
2. Tour Guide
In terms of jobs for retirees, working as a tour guide can be both fun and rewarding, offering the opportunity to share your knowledge and passion for a specific location or topic, or both. For example you might want to take tours about 60s gangland culture in the East End of London, or the music scene in Liverpool – whichever you feel is your area of expertise.
If you’re a retiree with a wealth of knowledge about local history, culture, or attractions, and you’d like to share your expertise with visitors from all different places, then being a tour guide is for you.
Skills needed for this role: to take on a retirement job as a tour guide, you’ll need an area of expertise (a city’s history and architecture, knowledge of museum artefacts, knowledge of art or music… or something of that nature), a relatively outgoing personality, a passion for storytelling, and maybe a blue badge from the Institute of Tourist Guiding, but this isn’t absolutely essential.
Benefits:
- The chance to interact and connect with people from all walks of life.
- A sense of fulfillment from sharing your knowledge and passion with others.
- Flexible, part-time, and/or seasonal work, to suit your schedule.
- The chance to stay physically active, as many tours involve walking through cities, parks, or historical sites.
- Earning money doing something you love.
3. Retail Assistant
If you’re looking for part-time jobs for pensioners or retirees, then working in retail could offer the right opportunities. Retail assistant roles give you the chance to have increased social interactions, work as part of a team, and stay up to date on new trends and technologies – keeping you mentally engaged and connected with the world around you.
These new technologies might include point-of-sale systems, digital inventory management tools, and customer service technologies. And, depending on the role, you may gain further experience with e-commerce, mobile apps, or online order systems, giving you insight into the digital side of retail.
Skills needed for this role: if you’re looking for retirement jobs in retail, you’ll need to have strong communication skills, to handle customer enquiries, the ability to work as part of a team, problem-solving skills, product knowledge (to know how to advise and sell to customers), basic technology skills, and good time management.
Benefits:
- Regular interaction with both customers and colleagues increases social engagement.
- Staying up to date on trends and technologies keeps the mind sharp.
- Flexible options: different shift times and part-time and seasonal opportunities.
- A sense of belonging, from working well together, in a team.
4. Event Staff
Working as event staff, such as a greeter or ticket taker, can be a fun part-time job for pensioners or retirees, offering plenty of social interaction, in a lively environment.
These events can range from small gatherings to large-scale festivals, comedy gigs, or concerts, offering plenty of variety.
The job typically involves straightforward tasks such as welcoming guests, checking tickets, and directing attendees. It’s pretty low-stress and involves minimal physical labour, other than having to stand and interact with the public.
Skills needed for this role: to work as event staff, as a retirement job, you need to be friendly and approachable, to provide excellent customer service to all guests. You need to be organised, to manage and prioritise tasks, and have strong communication skills…and you need to be comfortable working in environments that may, at times, be noisy.
Benefits:
- Regular social interactions with attendees from diverse backgrounds.
- Variety – you could be working at small music gigs or large concerts, and anything in between.
- A fun, lively, energetic working environment.
- Flexible/part-time/temporary roles, to suit your schedule.
- Minimal training required.
- Possible perks, such as free/discounted tickets and behind-the-scenes tours.
5. Cleaner
Facilities management cleaning roles offer good opportunities for part-time jobs for pensioners or retirees, particularly those with strong attention to detail and organisational skills. These roles are all about maintaining a clean, safe, and hygienic environment in places such as hotels, office environments, hospitals, and schools.
You’ll often be tasked with cleaning, mopping, dusting, polishing, vacuuming, and taking out rubbish and recycling to the correct receptacles. Occasionally you may have to use specialised equipment, such as floor scrubbers or pressure washers.
These roles are the ideal retirement jobs for those with a keen eye for detail who like the see visible results from their hard work.
Skills needed for the role: you need to be thorough when taking on a cleaning role, so meticulous attention to details is essential, as is effective time management, to prioritise tasks and manage cleaning schedules effectively. You also need to be able to carefully follow safety protocols, as cleaning involves sticking to health and safety regulations, such as using the correct cleaning fluids and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Benefits:
- Flexible and part-time hours available, to suit your schedule.
- Social interaction, from working within a team.
- Physical activity – cleaning roles can help with your overall fitness and wellbeing.
- Routine, structured tasks – a low-stress working environment.
- Minimal training/no certification required.
6. Freelance Editor or Writer
A good part-time job for pensioners or retirees with previous experience of writing or editing – perhaps as a journalist or copywriter – is freelance writing and editing. Regardless of the type of writing and editing you choose to pursue, this kind of retirement job allows you to work independently, set your own hours, and work on a wide variety of projects/topics.
You could find yourself writing anything from articles, to blog posts, to adverts, to video scripts, to technical writing, or maybe editing manuscripts. You could work with individual clients directly or maybe an agency could take you on. And as you build a portfolio of published work (you may already have one), you can land more jobs.
Skills needed for the role: you need to have written professionally before, in some capacity. This is not a job for retirees who just have a computer keyboard and can type a bit. Excellent grammar, punctuation, and the ability to adapt to different styles, or tones, are essential. And the ability to conduct thorough research on various topics is equally essential.
You’ll also need to be adaptable, to writing for different platforms/media and genres. Time management is pretty important too, as you’ll often be writing to deadlines. Multiple projects on the go equals multiple deadlines. And you need a fair degree of empathy, to try to understand the audience you’re writing to.
Benefits:
- Flexibility – you choose your own hours and workload.
- A wide variety of projects, across different media and topics.
- Mental stimulation – writing and editing keeps the mind active and engaged.
- Work from anywhere – from home, your local coffee shop, a library…
- Creative fullfillment – these jobs allow you to express your creativity through your writing.
7. Waiting Staff
Working as waiting staff can offer the ideal solution in terms of part-time jobs for pensioners or retirees, whether working for an individual restaurant, a catering company, or a large banqueting suite.
Although retirees should be aware that hospitality is a fast-paced industry, with physical demands, such as carrying heavy trays, and lots of queries (and possible complaints) from guests.
Ultimately, the role revolves around guest satisfaction: taking orders, making food and drink recommendations, accommodating specific dietary requirements, making sure wine glasses are refilled, serving food, and dealing with any enquiries that come up along the way. One particularly good thing about waiting staff roles is the opportunity to earn tips, on top of your set wage – allowing you to boost your additional income.
Skills needed for the role: to be successful in a retirement job working as waiting staff, you’ll need strong customer service skills, to handle all customer queries and/or issues swiftly and professionally. You’ll also need to be patient and adaptable, as the hospitality sector can be fast-paced and somewhat unpredictable at times. You’ll need to be comfortable in a team-based environment, working closely with other servers, chefs, and kitchen staff… and you’ll need to keep up with the physical demands of the job – often standing for long periods of time and carrying heavy trays.
Benefits:
- Constant social interaction, both with guests and with members of your team.
- Tips – allowing your to boost your earnings.
- Flexibility – allowing you to work part-time or on a seasonal basis.
- A lively, energetic work environment, especially at events such as weddings or corporate functions.
- Variety – you could be working in a local cafe, an upmarket restaurant, a large dining hall etc.
8. Warehouse Operative
When it comes to jobs for retirees, working as a warehouse operative is definitely something worth considering. It’s a physically demanding job that provides opportunities for exercise, social interaction (working as part of a team), and skill development.
Warehouse operative work will often involve lifting and carrying goods, storing them in the correct places, and inventory management – making sure there’s enough stock in the warehouse. These jobs will also often involve using certain machinery and/or technology, for which you can usually get on-the-job training.
Because of the use of certain machinery, it’s essential that, as part of your role, you stick to safety protocols and wear any PPE your employer asks you to.
Skills needed for the role: to take on a retirement job as a warehouse operative, you need a degree of physical fitness. It’ll also help if you have a little knowledge of logistics and supply chain processes. You need to be able to work as part of a team, be aware of your surroundings (to ensure your safety and the safety of others), and have good problem-solving skills. And you need strong attention to detail, for accuracy when handling orders and ensuring customers receive the right goods.
Benefits:
- Regular exercise – the role involves lifting, carrying, and walking.
- Learning new skills – how to use certain machinery or technology.
- Social interaction – working with colleagues, building relationships, being part of a team.
- Flexibility – part-time and/or seasonal work available, to suit your preferences.
- Shift options – work is available mornings, afternoons, and evenings, allowing you to pick and choose the best times for you.
Tips for finding and landing good part-time jobs for seniors
If you’re a retiree looking for good retirement jobs across the UK, whether you’re looking for roles in Bristol, roles in Liverpool, or anywhere else, it pays to know how to start your search for such jobs.
So here are a few job hunting tips to help you get the ball rolling:
- Use online job boards, like LinkedIn or Glassdoor, or, better still, use an app specifically for finding flexible jobs, like Indeed Flex.
- When using online search engines, use relevant keywords to refine your job search, like ‘temporary work’, ‘part-time’, ‘retirement jobs’, or ‘jobs for retirees’.
- Set up jobs alerts on any jobs boards or apps you use, so you’re notified of new opportunities as soon as they come up.
- Visit the careers pages of companies you’re interested in, as many will post temporary job openings directly on their own websites.
- Get in touch with family, friends, and former colleagues who might know of upcoming opportunities.
- Start networking – attending conferences, workshops, and industry events, to make new connections and potentially find new roles.
- Use social media platforms to spread the word that you’re looking for a job.
- When going for jobs, highlight your transferable skills from all of your previous roles.
- Also highlight your achievements in previous roles – your successes.
- Consider freelancing or consultancy work, given your previous experience. Use sites like Upwork to land new projects.
If you’re looking for retirement jobs, there are plenty out there, across all different sectors – each requiring different skills and coming with a host of different benefits. You just have to keep an open mind, apply yourself to your job search, and see what comes your way.
