As younger Generation Z workers overtake the number of baby boomers in the workforce, an exclusive poll for Newsweek has revealed that younger generations want a mandatory retirement age for older workers.
The poll, conducted by Talker Research between December 23 and 30, had responses from 1,000 U.S. adults and offers insights into how different age groups view workforce transitions.
Respondents were asked: Should older workers be required to retire by a certain age to make room for younger generations in the workforce?
The responses were mixed. Just over half (51 percent) of Gen Z respondents (born between 1997 and 2012) believe older workers should retire to open up opportunities for younger employees. Forty-seven percent of millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, also supported the idea.
Older generations, unsurprisingly, were more likely to reject the idea. Among the Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) respondents, only 35 percent were in favor. Meanwhile, baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) strongly opposed the idea, with 65 percent rejecting it.
The Silent Generation (born between 1925 and 1945) was just 1 percent of the survey sample. Its members also overwhelmingly opposed mandatory retirement, with 67 percent rejecting the idea.
Experts React
Andrea Jill Miller, CEO of the LeadWell Co., told Newsweek: “It’s not hard to understand why Gen Z might support mandatory retirement ages. They’ve grown up watching their parents and grandparents work well past 65, sometimes because they want to but often because they have to.
“For a generation juggling student debt, skyrocketing living costs and a job market that doesn’t always feel like it has room for them, the idea of a set retirement age might seem like a way to create more opportunities for younger workers to step in and succeed,” Miller said.
But Ben Eubanks, a former HR director and HR researcher, pointed out that this is unlikely to work in reality.
“There are some companies that have mandatory retirement ages, but in my opinion it should only be truly required when safety is a concern for the person or for the people around them,” Eubanks told Newsweek.
“One of the primary reasons older workers continue to work beyond retirement age is because they need the money. I don’t see the country ever formally forcing retirement on anyone because it cuts off their livelihood,” he said.
“Forcing retirement isn’t a simple solution, and it’s not really fair either,” Miller said. “Age doesn’t determine whether someone is adding value to a team; their contribution does. Plenty of older workers bring expertise, mentorship and institutional knowledge that are irreplaceable.”
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