More and more people in Germany are working even though they receive a state pension. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), initial results from the 2025 microcensus revealed that 14 percent of pensioners aged 65 to 74 are currently employed in Germany, up from 13 percent in the previous year. Among pensioners, men (16 percent) were more likely to be working than women (11 percent).
The proportion of active pensioners tends to decrease as age increases. For instance, almost one-fifth (19 percent) of pensioners aged 65 and 66 are employed, while only eight percent of those aged 73 and 74 are working.
A correlation also exists between education level and employment in later life. While 18 percent of pensioners with higher education qualifications are employed, this rate drops significantly, standing at 12 percent for those with medium education and 10 percent for those with lower education. One possible explanation is that highly educated pensioners may continue working due to the enjoyment gained from the activity.
Overall, 73 percent of employed pensioners work as dependent employees, while 27 percent are self-employed. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of dependent pensioners report working on a marginal basis. In 2025, marginal employment was defined as earning a maximum of 556 euros per month or working for no more than three months, or for a maximum of 70 working days per year.
In terms of working hours, retirees generally work reduced schedules. Forty percent typically work less than ten hours per week, and a quarter (25 percent) works between ten and under 20 hours. Twelve percent of pensioners employed reported working 20 to under 30 hours per week, while nine percent worked 30 to under 40 hours. Thirteen percent of employed pensioners work over 40 hours a week. Interestingly, self-employed pensioners (28 percent) were more likely to work over 40 hours per week compared to their employed counterparts (8 percent).
