Taking on Roz's point on older workers - I moved to London in 2000 because at 50 I could not get an interview for a job in my home town in Melbourne, despite multiple degrees and plenty of experience. I was considered too old and past it. I could not believe the different way I was treated in London. I was offered any number of jobs and could have continued to age 65. Times have clearly changed.
Final salary pensions, even in the governments services, were mostlytaken away from most workers 15-20 years ago in Oz when it was realised that the population was aging and the public purse couldn't afford these type of pensions. Workers had little choice but to change over to a different style of pension or pay double contributions for the rest of their working life. Paying into a work based pension is compulsory in Oz now, but everyone lost huge amounts of equity from their pension funds over the awful economic situation. Those on brink of retirement or retired have had to take on any work they can get or face trying to live on tiny amounts of money. Often both. There is no automatic right to an equivalent to State Pension - as stated before it is subject to stringent asset and income tests. There is no automatic right to free or cheap medicine or health care. The safety net is just that - not a 'right' as it is seen in UK. People are holding onto a job if they can and facing working until they are nearly 70. Of course this relies on people being able to hold on to work, and having good health. There is a largely hidden population of people, often professional single women, who are living lives at retirement age with a lot less than they ever imagined. These same women are often helping with their children and grandchildren as well.