Will you still be able to do your current job when you are close to retirement?

[alwaysstressed]

I work a pretty physical job that I've done all my life, im not trained or skilled in anything else.
I am 42 and I am a dog groomer and all the bending and lifting and being on my feet all day is already taking its toll on my body and I really don't think I'll be able to do this when im say 60-65, but what will I do? This is all I know.

Does anyone else have physical jobs that you just can't see yourself managing to do when you're older?

I'm 60 and I'm still doing the marketing/events job I've been doing for the last 20 years.

I was made redundant during covid when I was 58 and I had to fight for 7 months to find an equal level job (ageism can be an issue I think) but I got there eventually, and still travel around the UK setting up stands and presentations, hosting events and so on.

I plan to retire in two years.

Sympathies OP, I'm 47 and a dog walker. There is no way that I will manage my job in another 20 years. It's all I've done for years though 😐

Yes. There are people in their seventies where I work (local government). And much older local councillors!

No, I lug heavy equipment around and occasionally get attacked. I'm mid 50s so retraining to do something with minimal 'stuff' and no risk of getting walloped!

Would be ok If job is still there. I think supermarkets will just have 1 member of staff plus self service. We aren't far off that already, so who knows.

Not sure I can do the physical aspects of my nursing job e.g. bandaging legs on my knees etc at nearing 70

I’m 47 and will retire latest 60. Dentistry is a young person’s game!
I work part time and teach so should hopefully make 60 with luck and good health.

No. Not a chance. And it is worrying me now in my 40’s. Ive very rarely known a high school teacher in 20 years work beyond 60, let alone 68.

Im slightly different, i have a desk job so yes ill be physically able to do my job, but its very mentally draining, I already have older colleagues who struggle acheiving the expected productivity targets.

Currently running around the wings of a busy men's prison, can't imagine doing it much beyond 60 but can slide into a prison admin job easily enough

What will you do if you can't continue your job?
It's quite worrying and im starting to wish id thought about this in my 20s when I first started!

The job, yes as wfh.
The travel, no as I've driven 500miles this week for scheduled appointments and one week out of four is like this.

Luckily my husband is almost eight years my junior so I plan to retire at sixty and we'll live on one income for a while.

God willing I last that long and manage to have the mortgage paid off in time.

I’m currently retraining into a job that I will then do until the day (before!) I die! I love the idea of carrying on working. It’s a gentle job I can do from home and is basically sedentary.

I am in a desk job so physically yes as long as my brain doesn't turn to jelly and start dripping out of my ear - which to be honest is how I feel most Fridays!

What on earth do you do where you're getting attacked?

In theory yeah, but I imagine AI will be doing my job by then.

I'm 61 and am full time cabin crew. I'm always getting up at 3am or finishing after midnight - and have constant jet lag.
My job is incredibly physical but it's all I've known and whilst I feel fit and able I'll still be doing my job in a few years I imagine

I worry about the opposite - I have a scientific desk job, and I worry about being able to / wanting to keep up as I get older.

I've a desk job in finance and have several years to go before I retire. I'm starting to struggle a bit now with sciatica which makes sitting for long periods uncomfortable, and I also have arthritis starting up in my fingers, so using a keyboard makes my hands ache. As long as none of it gets much worse and I don't have anything else crop up, I should just about be able to manage to get to 67. Sodding 67.

Im a teacher. No way could I be in the classroom at 68. 60 will be my max but trying to wrangle a class of teenagers will be hard going at that age as it is.

I doubt it
I'm a nurse in a high security prison and feeling it already at 57

I am in my 40s and am a nurse. I can’t imagine still working 13hr shifts on my feet all day in 20 plus years, but I have no idea what else I would do. This is the only job I have ever wanted to do. I do have colleagues who have reached retirement age, officially retired but still do 1 or 2 shifts a week so it is possible.

I'm in admin, so physically yes. I am more thinking AI will be taking over doing minutes and calendar appointments etc. instead 😕

Hopefully yes

It's very sedentary

@FranksInvisibleLlama this is what I’m hoping to do but I’m on the new pension scheme in Scotland and think it’s something like 40 years service before you can retire, on the old scheme you could retire early. Im
hoping to specialise at some point anyway maybe cancer care or tissue viability which might be more sustainable