1 in 7 pensioners in Germany now holds a job after retirement

A growing number of people in Germany are remaining in the workforce past traditional retirement age. New official figures show that one in seven pensioners in the country held a job during 2025.

More retirees in Germany work minijobs & part-time roles

According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 14 percent of people aged 65 to 74 were employed while receiving a state pension in 2025. This marks a slight increase from 13 percent recorded in 2024, continuing a broader upward trend in post-retirement employment across the country.

The vast majority of working retirees choose lightweight schedules rather than full-time employment. Official statistics published by Destatis show that 73 percent of employed pensioners work as dependent employees, with 65 percent of this group holding marginal employment contracts, commonly known as minijobs, earning up to 556 euros a month. By contrast, 27 percent of working retirees are self-employed.

Working hours also reflect this split, as 65 percent of working pensioners log fewer than 20 hours per week. Self-employed retirees are significantly more likely to work longer schedules, with 28 percent logging over 40 hours per week, compared with 8 percent of dependent employees. Employment rates also decline steadily with age, dropping from 19 percent among people aged 65 and 66 to 8 percent for those aged 73 and 74.

Education levels & social factors shape post-retirement work

Demographics and educational background heavily influence who stays in the workforce after retirement.

Destatis figures reveal that retirees with higher educational qualifications are significantly more likely to continue working, with 18 percent remaining employed compared to 10 percent of those with lower education levels. Gender differences also persist, with 16 percent of male retirees holding a job compared to 11 percent of female retirees.

Motivation for working into retirement varies across the population. While a 2023 survey indicated that 33 percent of working pensioners took on jobs out of financial necessity, many others reported remaining active to stay socially connected or simply because they enjoy their work.

These figures arrive as Germany faces mounting labour shortages and ongoing political debates over pension sustainability. Lawmakers continue to discuss potential reforms to statutory retirement rules, including the controversial phase-out of early retirement schemes like the Rente mit 63, retirement at 63 after 45 years of contributions. The data shows that a flexible transition into retirement is already becoming standard practice for many people in Germany.