The portion of pensioners supporting young adults aged 18 and above has expanded significantly over the past year, a new survey by the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) shows, underlining the country’s worsening youth unemployment crisis.
The RBA survey shows 93 per cent of pensioners are now supporting dependants, up from 83 percent earlier this year. 45 per cent of pensioners reported that youth aged 25 years and above were heavily dependent on them, whether as children, grandchildren, or other relatives.
The data reveals that 39 per cent of retirees are still supporting children above 25 years, often graduates expected to be in employment. Young adults between 18 and 24 form the single largest dependent group.
According to the 2025 Economic Survey, the country’s overall unemployment rate remained relatively stable, with official statistics showing it at about 5.4 per cent in 2024.
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