Savings & Retirement

The ‘Great Retirement’ Disconnect That Puzzles U.S. Economists

Millions of Americans retired sooner than they anticipated because of Covid-19, but applications for Social Security benefits are roughly flat. What gives?

Photographer: Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg
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The pandemic pushed millions of older Americans out of the labor force. It should have spawned a surge in Social Security benefits applications — but it hasn’t. Perhaps because they aren’t retired.

The disconnect has economists wondering how many of these baby boomers might come back to the workforce — a key question when job openings have remained near record levels for months now.