A recent survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has uncovered that nearly a quarter of Americans do not have retirement plans.

The survey suggests a growing gap between Americans’ retirement intentions and the reality of aging in the workforce.

Retirement seems to be losing its importance among Americans. For instance, recent initiatives like McDonald’s efforts to recruit older employees indicate the value that seniors bring to the workforce. Many experts note that health issues and other factors often lead people to retire earlier than they had anticipated. Nonetheless, 23% of workers in general and nearly 20% of those aged 50 and above do not foresee retiring. Statistics from the government show that around 20% of individuals aged 65 and over were either employed or seeking employment in June.

Various factors contribute to this shift, with financial preparedness being a significant aspect. Roughly 33% of American adults aged 50 and above expressed feeling financially unready for retirement, while 29% feel extremely or very prepared, and another 40% feel somewhat prepared. Furthermore, opinions among Americans are divided on working past the age of 65. 39% of those surveyed believe that continuing to work beyond retirement age is largely beneficial for American workers, while 29% think it is good and 30% believe it makes no difference.