Seniors To Keep Working

Grey Army painter Ray Sawdy.

Photo: Warren Lynam

RAY Sawdy is a fighting fit member of the Sunshine Coast Grey Army, a company that recruits tradies over the age of 40 for work.

At 57, Mr Sawdy, a painter for 40 years, reckons he will still be in the workforce when he is 70.

He loves his job, which is one of the reasons he intends to keep working, but his motivation is also financial.

When the global financial crisis hit Mr Sawdy got burnt, meaning his retirement had to get pushed back.

He is one of a growing number of Coast seniors being forced to keep working longer for economic reasons.

I'm really lucky because I'm passionate about my job, Mr Sawdy said.

I haven't thought too much about retirement and, if I can, want to keep working at least 10 more years.

I do need the extra money, but the painting helps keep me fit and healthy too, so I can enjoy life more.

A survey conducted by the Coast branch of Suncorp Life identified a new breed of grey collar seniors who are past retirement age but can not afford to stop work.

The survey found 37% of Coast residents between 45 and 65 expected to continue working into their late 60s, and 11% expected to continue working into their late 70s.

Plans to embrace the life of the grey nomad and drive off into the sunset just aren't a reality for these grey collar citizens, for whom giving up paid employment is not feasible,Suncorp Life general manager David Carter said.

The Sunshine Coast has traditionally been recognised as the ideal place for people to reap the rewards of their working life through a more relaxed lifestyle but it seems for many seniors this is no longer the case.

The survey found 17% of Coast residents expected to work more than 20 hours a week in retirement and 7% expected to work more than 30 hours a week.

Mr Carter said about half of those surveyed said financial security, not health, would be the biggest influence on when they retired.

While there are some who choose to keep working because they like their job or enjoy keeping busy, a significant number feel they do not have the luxury or flexibility of choice, he said.

Dean Bryant, who set up the Sunshine Coast Grey Army 10 years ago, said the number of older tradies seeking work had increased. and money was a key theme.

Most need to keep going for financial reasons, he said.