新奇事件簿 英国人选择延迟退休年龄

People are working to an older age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working in their old age is because retirement¹ pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survive.

英国退休年龄延迟。在过去十年中，70-74的在职工作者人数翻一番。在所有70岁出头的英国人中，约10%仍然坚持工作。这是有记录以来的最高值。英国政府表示称，70-74岁老年人工作人数超过了25万。2005年，这一数字大约为10万。政府称人们的工作年限增加，退休年龄延迟。一名工会发言人表示称，由于英国的退休金很难维持生计，导致人们延迟了工作年限。许多老年人不得不坚持上班，延迟退休维持生计。

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen big changes in the labour market, with far more people working beyond retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remaining in work, many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their own businesses. He said: "More and more older people are deciding on a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of doing for years."

员工发言人弗朗西·奥格雷迪认为：“过去十年，劳动力市场发生了翻天覆地的变化，延迟退休的人数越来越多。许多人愿意坚持工作，还有一些人由于无法生活而选择继续挣钱。”他还补充道：“我们需要好工作，需要满意的退休金，这样人们才能够对是否继续工作做出选择。”小企业发言人约翰·阿兰认为，许多老年人选择单干。他认为：“许多老年人决定在晚年更换职业，开始自己做买卖，追寻他们梦想多年的事业。”

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。