Nest egg nightmare: 1.2 million Aussies forced to delay or ditch retirement
Thousands of Australians have had to return to the workforce or delay retirement due to rising costs, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 536 respondents over the age of 43 found almost 1 in 5 (18%) either delayed retirement or re-entered the workforce in the past 2 years.
The majority of those (11%) had done so to ease cost of living pressures.
That's 1.26 million Aussies who had insufficient funds in super and other investments to stop work or remain retired.
A further 4% of Aussies resumed working to reduce boredom.
Alison Banney, superannuation expert at Finder, said the dream of a comfortable retirement is slipping further away.
"Rising costs aren't just squeezing younger Aussies – they're hitting older people hard enough that some are delaying retirement or heading back to work.
"While a handful are jumping back in because they want something to do, the majority are just trying to stay afloat."
In order to enjoy a comfortable retirement – and importantly, assuming you own your own home, debt-free – singles typically need around $595,000, while couples require about $690,000 in super, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
For a modest retirement, ASFA suggests debt-free homeowners need $100,000, whether they are single or a couple.
If you are renting, the required balance jumps to $340,000 for a single person or $385,000 for a couple, even for a modest lifestyle.
Banney said now is the time to review your super and explore whether a better performing fund could boost your retirement.
"Check you're with a super fund that has low fees and a history of strong long-term performance.
"It's also crucial you've only got one fund in your name, so you're not losing thousands of dollars to multiple sets of fees."
Banney said making small contributions to your nest egg can add up over time.
"If you're in a position to top up your super, even occasionally, it will compound over the years and make a big difference by the time you stop working."
Banney urged Australians not to take a 'set and forget' approach.
"If you're not keeping an eye on how your super is performing, you could miss out on the equivalent of a full year's pay – or even more – by the time you reach retirement.
"The difference in returns between funds can be huge. A top performing fund can set you up for a comfortable retirement, while an underperformer can leave you just scraping by.
"It's a good idea to review your fund every year to see how it stacks up against others, and whether its investment strategy still matches where you're at in life," Banney said.
Have you delayed retiring or come out of retirement for any of the following reasons in the last 2 years?
| To ease cost of living pressures | 11% |
| To reduce boredom | 4% |
| For an emergency (e.g. to support a family member) | 1% |
| Other | 4% |
| I've never worked | 5% |
| I am not retired | 34% |
| I have not had to come out of retirement or delay my retirement | 43% |
| Source: Finder survey of 536 respondents over the age of 43, November 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 536 respondents over the age of 43, from November 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
Thinking of making extra contributions to your superannuation? Here's everything you need to know.
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