1 in 7 pensioners in Germany now holds a job after retirement
More retirees in Germany are working past age 65. New Destatis figures highlight how minijobs, part-time roles, and self-employment reshape German pensions.
In 2025, Germany saw a notable shift as one in seven pensioners aged 65 to 74 held jobs while receiving state pensions, according to official figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This represents a slight rise from 13 percent in 2024, indicating a broader upward trend in post-retirement employment nationwide. Most retirees maintain light workloads, with 73 percent of employed pensioners working part-time, with 65 percent of these individuals holding marginal employment contracts known as minijobs, earning up to 556 euros per month.
Only 27 percent of working retirees are self-employed. Work hours tend to be shorter among pensioners, with 65 percent logging fewer than 20 hours per week, while 28 percent of self-employed retirees work over 40 hours weekly compared to 8 percent of those employed. Employment rates decline as retirees age, dropping from 19 percent for those aged 65-66 to 8 percent for those aged 73-74.
Higher educational attainment and a preference for staying socially connected, or financial necessity, influence older workers' decisions to remain employed.
Written by urgent.news from IamExpat Germany (All Germany News)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
