For older U.S. workers, retirement is no longer a milestone, it’s a moving target, shaped by inflation, health costs, and financial instability.
Due to market volatility in recent months, 75% of American workers aged 50 and older say they have delayed retirement due to stock market volatility, and 91% report that inflation or tariffs have impacted their retirement plans, according to the Retirement Reality Check report from LiveCareer, an online resume builder.
In addition, the report reveals that more than 60% of workers 50 or older are actively withdrawing from retirement accounts to cover everyday expenses.
Other key findings from the report include:
- The rising cost of care is the biggest financial concern among older workers: 55% cite healthcare or long-term care expenses as their top worry.
- Many fear their savings won’t last: 49% say they’re worried about outliving their retirement funds.
- Confidence is eroding in the face of economic instability: 91% say inflation and tariffs have affected their retirement outlook.
- Volatile markets are triggering action: 41% have made changes to their investment strategy due to stock market uncertainty.
Retirement is being rewritten by uncertainty
Most older workers aren’t stepping into retirement with confidence:
- 55% say their biggest worry is the cost of health care or long-term care.
- 49% fear they will outlive their savings.
- 30% cite stock market instability as a major concern.
- 21% worry about inflation reducing their buying power.
Only 2% of respondents said they aren’t worried at all about their financial future.
Most are rethinking their retirement plan
When asked how inflation and tariffs have affected their retirement confidence:
- 45% said they’re rethinking their entire plan.
- Another 46% have made smaller adjustments.
Only 9% say those concerns have had little or no impact on their retirement outlook.
Delayed retirements, adjusted expectations
Along with delaying retirement, many older workers are also making significant lifestyle and investment changes:
- 41% have made changes to their investment strategy due to market instability.
- Just 8% say they’re staying the course with no changes.
“People aren’t just tweaking their timelines, they’re fundamentally rethinking what retirement looks like,” Jasmine Escalera, career expert at LiveCareer, said in a statement. “Even those with solid investments are worried about what comes next. It’s not about giving up on retirement, but about staying afloat, adapting to uncertainty, and protecting what they’ve built.”
Most are already tapping their retirement savings
Even as they delay retirement, many older workers are already drawing from their retirement savings, often out of necessity:
- 61% are regularly withdrawing from their retirement accounts.
- 30% dip into savings occasionally, for specific expenses.
- 8% are holding off and saving their funds for later.
“These numbers underscore the ongoing financial strain many over-50 workers face, even as they try to preserve long-term security,” LiveCareer said.
Methodology: This report is based on a survey conducted by LiveCareer in February 2026 with 878 U.S. workers aged 50 and older. Respondents answered a mix of single- and multiple-choice questions regarding their retirement planning, financial concerns, investment behavior, and perceptions of modern retirement realities.
Photo credit: CatLane/iStock
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