The increase in the state pension age to 67 has had a considerable impact on the number of people over the age of 65 still working, new figures from national statistics agency CBS show.

Some 50% of the over-65s are still in work, compared with just 15% in the second quarter of 2013, when the pension age was increased to 65 and one month. Since then the pension age has risen steadily to 67 in line with life expectancy.

Most of those still working have a permanent job and are more likely to work at least 20 hours a week, the CBS said. People with a university or college degree are more likely to be working than people who went to trade school.

One in ten people aged 70 to 75 are also working regularly and again, college graduates are most likely to still have a job.

Unions are currently campaigning to get the government to come up with new rules allowing people doing physically taxing jobs to retire before they reach the age of 67. The current regulations expire this year.