Average retirement age on the rise

Figures have shown that the average person is working longer before retiring.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the average man now retired at 64.5 years - compared with 63.8 in 2004.

But it wasn't just men staying in work longer - with the average woman going from a retirement age of 61.2 in 2004 to 62 in 2009.

And with plans to rise the state pension age in the coming years, the average age is expected to get keep getting older.

By 2018 the state pension age for women will reach 65.

But two years later it will rise again to give both men and women a retirement age of 66.

Further rises to 67 and then 68 are also pencilled in for the future, with a target set for 2046.

And this October more firms are expected to keep workers on as the Government scraps the default retirement age of 65.

The ONS also revealed that in recent years more people have chosen to stay in work even when they reach state pension age.

Of this group, two thirds opted for part-time rather than full-time jobs.

Meanwhile, the employment rate for men aged 65 or over hit 11.7% in September-November last year. This was compared to a figure of 10.7% in April-June 2008.

The rate also increased for women during the same periods - going from 12.3% to 13.5%.

Copyright Press Association, 2011.