Our research paper looks at the fairness challenge of rising state pension ages. Contact us to receive a copy of the full paper or to request a meeting to discuss the research or receive a tailored briefing relevant to your organisation.
Abstract
As OECD countries push state pension ages towards 67 and beyond, often tied automatically to life expectancy, a sharp fairness challenge has emerged. Those who start work earliest and do the heaviest jobs not only earn least but also live shorter and less healthy lives – enjoying far fewer years in retirement than professionals.
The differences are striking. At 65, low-educated men can expect 17.7 further years of life compared with 21.2 for the highly educated. One quarter die before 74, while another quarter live beyond 92 – an 18-year spread.
This paper explores how governments are addressing these inequalities through career-length rules, arduous-work credits, sector-funded early retirement and health-based carve-outs. International evidence shows that, if tightly defined, such measures can protect vulnerable workers at a modest cost.
The conclusion is clear: later retirement ages are financially unavoidable, but fairness requires carefully designed hardship provisions. Without them, reforms risk losing public trust.
This paper follows on from our earlier study on Global Trends in National Retirement Ages, which examined how countries are converging on SPAs of 66–67 and in some cases moving towards 70.
How Haines Global Pensions can help you
We work with employers, pension providers, insurers and policymakers to design strategies that balance financial sustainability with fairness. We can help by:
- Analysing workforce demographics and life expectancy differences.
- Advising on retirement policy, workforce planning and hardship provisions.
- Benchmarking international practice to inform UK and global debates.
- Working with our network of specialist partners to support communication, wellbeing and workforce transition planning.