According to data from the Central Statistical Office in Poland, at the end of 2024, 9.41 million people received retirement and disability pensions, of which 872.6 thousand were employed. In addition, there may be even more of these people, because changes to the law are planned. We checked where they most often find employment and how much Polish retirees earn.
– If I had to count only on my pension, it would only be enough for bills and the cheapest food – Krystyna Ratajczak, a retired civil servant, tells Bankier.pl. – Fortunately, my health still allows me to work, so I got a part-time job at an accounting office. Thanks to this, I manage to make ends meet. Besides, I like being active, so it gives me pleasure.
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According to ZUS data, at the end of 2024 the number of working pensioners amounted to 872.6 thousand, which means an increase of 52% compared to the end of 2015, when it was 575.4 thousand.
According to Krzysztof Inglot, founder of Personnel Service, more and more retirees decide to continue their professional activity.
– This is very good news, especially in the context of demographic challenges and the growing average life expectancy – Krzysztof Inglot tells Bankier.pl. – Working in retirement is not only an additional source of income, but also a way to maintain social activity. It is also worth emphasizing that from the perspective of employers, the experience of retirees can be invaluable, especially in the context of passing on knowledge to younger employees.
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However, according to Krzysztof Inglot, the situation of seniors on the labor market is unfortunately not the best.
– In our Polish Labour Market Barometer from 2023, as many as 14% of employers admitted that they prefer to employ people under 50 – says the Personnel Service expert.
This is also confirmed by Renata Wozba, president of the T2S Group and labor market expert at the Business Centre Club.
– Although the 60+ generation is still eager to learn, undertakes a range of training courses, and wants to keep up to date with changing market trends, employers are still more willing to hire younger people, often giving up the vast experience of older people – Renata Wozba tells Bankier.pl. – This is especially evident in the era of automation, robotics and AI, when more and more processes in companies are being replaced by artificial intelligence. Technological proficiency is a sought-after skill on the job market today, which is not attributed to mature employees.
Where to look for a job in retirement?
It turns out that it is easier for retirees to find work in smaller towns, where employee turnover is very low. Most often, long-term employees of companies have a chance to continue their employment there. The situation is not too bad in the industrial and logistics sectors.
– Many employers, e.g. those operating logistics warehouses, are also looking for physical workers among the older generation – says Renata Wozba. – According to them, experienced people who want to earn extra money for their retirement are more loyal to the employer who has trusted them. If, in addition, the job is right for them, they respect their workplace and engage in the assigned duties much more than a younger person who rotates in search of better conditions.
Half of them work in the smallest companies
In turn, Cezary Maciołek, president of Grupa Progres, believes that retirees most often find employment in microenterprises, which employ as much as 47 percent of this professional group. This is also increasingly common in large companies, with more than 250 employees, where 19 percent of people of this age work.
– The largest number of working retirees can be found in industries where experience and specialist knowledge count – Cezary Maciołek tells Bankier.pl. – The healthcare and social welfare sector employs 11% of retirees, while education employs 10%. This is due to both staff shortages and the fact that seniors often have extensive professional experience that is difficult to replace by younger employees. However, according to the expert from Grupa Progres, not all sectors are open to employing retired employees.
– In the information and communication industry, only 1% of employees are over 65 – says Cezary Maciołek. – This may be due to the need to constantly update technological skills, which is a challenge for many older people. Similarly, in construction and industry, their share is only 3%, which can be explained by physical requirements and work safety.
Retired after “forty”?
However, nowadays, it is not only seniors who are retired.
– The majority of people who have managed to retire are still of productive age – says Renata Wozba. – There are industries such as uniformed services, where people retire after the age of forty. Then they can easily find work in the private sector, e.g. in security as security experts. These are specialists with qualifications, training and extensive experience, so they are a very valuable asset for employers.
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The main goal of continuing professional work for people who have reached retirement age is the desire to earn extra money.
– Market data shows that the average monthly salary of retirees is around PLN 8.5 thousand – says Cezary Maciołek, president of Grupa Progres. – However, this result is inflated by well-paid specialists and managers. In reality, the salaries of many retirees, especially those employed in microenterprises, are much lower. They depend on the industry and the type of contract. In professions requiring high qualifications, such as doctors or academic teachers, earnings can be very attractive. In the case of occasional work, e.g. in security or administration, they are often closer to the minimum wage.
How much can a retiree earn?
According to the president of the T2S Group, the earnings of professionally active seniors are largely adjusted to the amount they cannot exceed due to the retirement benefit they receive. From March 1, 2025, it is PLN 5,934.10 gross.
– If it comes to that, you have to pay a large tax, which is often unprofitable – explains Renata Wozba. – That is why pensioners, in agreement with their employers, sign an employment contract or a contract for services, but not for full-time employment, only for part of it.
According to the expert, depending on the industry and place of employment, the earnings of professionally active seniors may range from PLN 3,500 to PLN 6,500 gross.
– Of course, in some companies, retirees in higher positions receive significantly higher salaries. This also applies to industries such as energy, pharmaceuticals or arms. Here, retirees often remain in the workplace as external experts – adds the president of the T2S Group.
It is best to stay in your old position
According to Krzysztof Inglot, the earnings of a retired person depend mainly on whether they continue their current professional career or take up work in a completely new sector.
– The most beneficial solution is to remain in the current position. Then, a senior can count on a salary similar to that before retirement – believes the Personnel Service expert. – However, if they decide to work in a different profession, they often have to count on lower remuneration – often at the level of the minimum wage or only slightly above it.
Will it be easier to find a job?
It turns out that seniors will soon be more willing to be employed.
– Employers who decide to hire people of retirement age can soon count on additional financial support – explains Cezary Maciołek. – The new act on the labor market and employment services, which is waiting to be signed by the president, aims to increase their professional activity and adapt the regulations to the current realities of the labor market. One of the key elements of the reform is a system of subsidies for employers who employ people over 50 years of age. Companies can receive up to 50 percent of the minimum wage for 12 months if they decide to employ unemployed seniors. In the case of people of retirement age, i.e. women over 60 years of age and men over 65 years of age, support has also been provided – subsidies paid every other month for a year. Thanks to such incentives, entrepreneurs can significantly reduce the costs of employing older employees, which may translate into an increase in their professional activity – adds the expert.
