More than three-quarters of employees anticipate working beyond 65, according to a survey by HR consulting firm Aon Consulting.
The research found that only an estimated one million are currently working past state pension age but this is expected to treble among people aged 65-70 by 2017.

It found that a quarter of respondents would carry on working past the official retirement age simply because they wanted to, whereas 53% believe it will be necessary to increase their pension.

Regionally, Newcastle workers were most committed to topping up their pension (57%), while less than half (49%) of Scottish employees were least willing to carrying on working to achieve this.

Jon Beaumont, HR consultant at Aon Consulting, says: “An ageing workforce is inevitable with an estimated three million people likely to be working beyond their retirement age within 10 years time. This could be a huge benefit to organisations, so long as the key challenges are tackled sooner rather than later. Businesses used to think that older workers could not drive companies forward but this old fashioned attitude needs to shift.

“Age should not be seen as a barrier. There is a vast pool of mentally agile people, with great work and life experience over the age of 60 and industries will be missing a trick if they do not capitalise on their productive potential.”