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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNearly half of workers surveyed said they doubted they would ever be able to retire completely. That is a measure of concern, not a forecast that half of workers will fail to retire. The finding comes from Thrivent’s 2026 Retirement Expectations Survey, conducted by Ipsos in June among more than 2,000 American adults and reported by USA Today.
What the 47% figure measures—and what it does not
The survey reporting says 47% of workers doubted they would be able to retire completely. It captures respondents’ expectations or fears at the time of the survey; it does not show how many will ultimately retire, when they will do so, or whether they will need to keep working.
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The report does not provide the exact wording of the Ipsos question or the worker subgroup’s denominator. Those omissions limit how precisely the percentage can be interpreted. The figures should be read as results attributed to the survey as reported by USA Today, not as a verified forecast for all U.S. workers.
Thrivent’s newsroom index lists a July 15, 2026 release titled “Retirement Confidence Holds Steady Despite Nearly Half of Non-Retirees Doubting They’ll Fully Retire, Thrivent Survey Finds,” but the index does not supply detailed methodology. The report available here does not state the field dates, sample frame, weighting, response rate, or subgroup bases.
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How the other responses add context
The same reporting gives a mixed picture of retirement expectations. The measures describe different things and are not mutually exclusive: someone may expect to retire on schedule and still plan to earn money afterward.
| Reported response | Share | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| Expected to have enough money to retire on schedule | 58% | Confidence about having enough to meet an intended retirement timetable. |
| Doubted they would be able to retire completely | 47% | Doubt about fully leaving work. |
| Expected to continue earning income in retirement | 36% | An expectation of some earnings after retirement begins. |
| Felt behind people their age in retirement saving | More than a third | A comparison with peers, not a measure of their actual retirement readiness. |
| Said thinking about retirement made them anxious | Half | Emotional response to retirement planning. |
All figures are reported from Thrivent’s 2026 survey by USA Today; the report does not provide exact question wording or subgroup bases for these responses.
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Why doubt is not the same as a personal outcome
“Will I ever be able to fully retire?” and “How much money do I need to retire?” are reasonable planning questions, but the survey cannot answer either for an individual. A retirement plan depends on personal details and uncertain future conditions, including the intended retirement date, how long savings may need to last, and possible investment-market performance.
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As Jason Rogoff, a financial adviser at Thrivent, put it: “People are looking at retirement more as a transition than a finish line.” That may describe a gradual shift from full-time work to part-time earnings for some people, but the survey does not establish why individual respondents expect to keep earning income.
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Practical ways to turn uncertainty into a plan
The reported advice is general rather than tailored to any one household. A useful first step is to turn the broad worry into assumptions and scenarios you can revisit.
Build a consistent saving habit
Rogoff said, “Small, consistent retirement contributions will have a very meaningful impact over time.” The article reports a common rule of thumb of saving 10% to 15% of salary. Treat that as a general guideline, not a personal target: what is workable or sufficient depends on your circumstances and timeline.
Model more than one retirement path
Try an online retirement-planning tool or work with a financial adviser to explore different retirement dates, lifespans, and market outcomes. Robert Brokamp, senior retirement adviser at The Motley Fool, said: “Retirement is a big math problem.” He added: “And you either have to have a really good tool or a really good expert who can help you nail down the numbers.” The survey article names online tools from Thrivent, AARP, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard; it does not compare their fees, quality, fiduciary status, or results.
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The article describes a reserve of three to six months of expenses as a common rule of thumb. This is a generalized benchmark, not an individualized target. Accessible savings can help cover unexpected costs without forcing a change to a retirement plan at a difficult moment.
Revisit assumptions as circumstances change
Retirement plans need room for adjustments as personal circumstances and the economy change. Rogoff said, “It’s very important to have a plan in place and one that’s adjustable based on the economy.” Retirement also brings choices that may not arise during working years. Brokamp said: “You have so many decisions to make when you retire that you didn’t make when you were working.”
Quick Recap
How to read the headline before applying it to yourself
- It is a survey response. The 47% figure records reported doubt, not the share of workers who will never retire.
- Confidence can coexist with concern. The survey also found that 58% expected to have enough to retire on schedule, while 36% expected retirement earnings; these expectations can overlap.
- The published detail is limited. Without exact question wording and full methodology, the results cannot support a more precise interpretation or a claim about every U.S. worker.
- Your plan requires your own numbers. Consider your timeline, likely expenses, savings, and uncertainty rather than treating a national survey percentage as a verdict on your future.
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