More than 10,000 Danish pensioners decide to return to work each year, according to analysis by Insurance and Pension Denmark (I&P Denmark).

The association found that in 2024, 11,600 people returned to the labour market. This figure was 1,360 higher than in 2023, equating to a 13 per cent increase year-on-year.

I&P Denmark deputy director, Andreas Østergaard Hartington, said they have noticed over a number of years that more pensioners have regrets about retiring.

“It is particularly state pensioners who, after a period of retirement without work, choose to start working again.

“It is incredibly positive and an important contribution to the historically high employment rate we have in Denmark that pensioners who still have the desire and health to do so are returning to work,” he said.

Indeed, the most recent figures revealed that there are over 100,000 state pensioners in work. I&P Denmark highlighted working pensioners who have taken early retirement or an early pension as an “interesting group”.

As many as 14 per cent of them start working when they become state pensioners. The association believes this is “remarkable”, pointing to differences in the rules for offsetting public benefits as part of the explanation.

“It is worth noting that people who have been on early retirement or early pension before reaching state pension age are increasingly starting to work when they become state pensioners,” Østergaard Hartington noted.

“This is probably because, while working as a state pensioner does not trigger any deductions, there is a risk of deductions from early retirement and early pension benefits. This means that you receive less in public benefits if you work. This probably deters many people from working while receiving early retirement or early pension,” he explained.

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