You’ve probably heard the line: “Nobody wants to work anymore.” Usually tossed out at younger workers and usually with a sigh.
But here’s the twist. Georgia is one of the easiest states in America to retire in, which means a whole lot of older workers here are lining up to stop working as soon as humanly possible.
According to a new study from retirement expert John Stevenson:
- Retirement savings needed: $813,559
- Average annual wage: $64,210
- Average annual expenses: $34,180
That combo means the average Georgian can retire in just 27 working years. Compare that to most states, where retirement looks more like a 40-year marathon, and suddenly the “don’t want to work” crowd starts sounding less like a complaint and more like a life goal.
Zoom out to the national picture:
- 63% of Americans say the cost of living makes it nearly impossible to save.
- 14% dipped into retirement accounts just to pay everyday bills this year.
- 1 in 5 workers at the tail end of their careers haven’t saved a dime for retirement.
So yes—nobody wants to work anymore. And if Georgia is any indication, that’s not a problem. That’s the dream.
Read the full study here.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
