As the news hits that the number of people working over the state pension age has almost doubled in the last 20 years (and now stands at 1.4 million), there will be millions of people scratching their heads and wondering what work will be most suitable when they get a bit older.

The experts reveal ten of the most common jobs among 60-somethings.

1. Management

The ONS specifically mentioned those in senior roles as a large group of older workers.

This tends to be those who have worked their way up the organisation, rather than people being recruited at 60 specifically for these roles. Spencer Jacobs, a director of specialist recruitment agency Forties People explains: "What is happening is that people are not retiring quite as early as they might have done in the past." This means senior managers working to their late 60s rather than retiring to the golf course in their late 50s.

2. Cleaners

This was highlighted by the report. There is a bit of a gender divide here, and by far the majority of people using cleaning to supplement their income are women. While physical jobs tend to pose more difficulties for older employees, there's a strong argument that people who have been keeping their own homes clean for the whole of their lives are more than capable.

3. Property managers

This was another category highlighted by the government statistics. In many cases, this is a case of people continuing in existing roles. However, in other instances, where people are using buy-to-let property as part of their pension, adopting the property management role is a key part of making the sums work.

4. Farmers

This is the most common work for men in retirement. Of course, as a back-breaking, physically demanding and unrelenting role, it may be one of the least suitable. However, the owner of a family farm may not have the pension savings to fall back on, and may stay at the helm, or take a back seat as a younger member of the family takes over.

5. Taxi drivers

This is the second most common work for men over the age of 65. As a largely sedentary role, utilising knowledge built up over the decades, it is perhaps one of the more suitable.

6. Other drivers

Richard Weakley, owner of specialist recruitment company 40+, says this is one of the most viable options for many candidates over retirement age. Anything from light deliveries to long-distance driving can suit the right retiree.

7. Care workers

Often older people have worked to care for their elderly relatives, so this is a natural extension of their caring role. Again this was something highlighted by the government figures. And again this is something with a very strong gender divide: women make up the majority of carers over 60.

8. Retail assistants

This has been a major trend, with some employers such as B&Q specifically targeting older employees. The company recently celebrated the 95th birthday of one staff member, Sydney Prior, and said in a statement: "The older workers employed in our stores, like Syd, have greater life experience and a true willingness to work which means they can pass on their knowledge and skills to customers and younger members of staff.

9. Book-keepers

Weakley says this is a common option, as "People still have the skills for this work, and they often have lower salary expectations because they are supplementing their income with a pension."

10. Childcarers

This is often a job without a salary, as grandparents step in to care for grandchildren to help make the household books balance. However, more and more women are getting the accreditation to take other children on, and use this as a way to boost their income.

Jacobs adds: "There is a place for the more mature candidate in all roles. They have different life experiences and life skills, that complement those of younger members of staff."

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga says that with the right job, the prospect of working past retirement needn't be an alarming one. She explains: "Many older people are increasingly choosing to stay at work, often part-time so that they ease more gently into retirement. If they feel fit and healthy and want more money, and are able to work, they are choosing to do so. Saga's research shows that many of our over 50s already want to work past 65. 71% would like to work part time rather than retiring and in fact 7% are already working past the age of 70. This isn't just for the money - work satisfaction, feeling useful and the social benefits we gain from working were key reasons that people wanted to continue."