Rule of 70 (Workforce Retirement Eligibility)

Last Updated 05/11/2026
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APA
Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. (2026). Rule of 70 (Workforce Retirement Eligibility). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/glossary/rule-of-70-workforce-retirement-eligibility/
MLA
"Rule of 70 (Workforce Retirement Eligibility)." Learn & Work Ecosystem Library, 11 May 2026, https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/glossary/rule-of-70-workforce-retirement-eligibility/. Accessed 13-09-2026.
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"Rule of 70 (Workforce Retirement Eligibility)." Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. 13-09-2026. https://learnworkecosystemlibrary.com/glossary/rule-of-70-workforce-retirement-eligibility/.
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SHRM Foundation

A retirement eligibility formula used by some employers, pension systems, and public-sector organizations in which an employee’s age plus years of service equals 70 or more to qualify for early retirement benefits or retirement incentives. Many versions of the rule also require a minimum age threshold, often age 50. The Rule of 70 is commonly used in workforce planning, pension administration, and voluntary early retirement programs during organizational transitions or restructuring. The Rule of 70 is not a universal standard. Eligibility formulas, benefit levels, and service requirements vary widely across organizations and retirement systems.

The phrase “Rule of 70” is also used in economics and finance to estimate how long it takes for something to double in size at a given growth rate (such as an investment or population growth).

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