Nearly Half of 2025 Retirees Leave Workforce Earlier Than Planned

4 articles · Updated · CNBC · Apr 28

The Employee Benefit Research Institute found 46% of 2025 retirees retired early, mostly due to health issues, layoffs, or caregiving needs, based on a January survey of 2,544 Americans.
Unplanned early retirement can significantly disrupt financial security, forcing lifestyle changes and reliance on others, while making it difficult to re-enter the workforce, especially after health events.
Experts recommend preparing for unexpected retirement by reducing debt, increasing savings, securing insurance, and planning for different retirement scenarios, as early retirement remains a consistent trend since the late 1990s.

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