The YouGov survey found 74% of respondents were worried that their pension alone would not be enough for them to continue at their current level of personal spending.
Some 41% of workers told researchers they do not think that they will be financially secure in retirement, suggesting they may have to work later in life.
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Early retirement has become an unlikely prospect for the overwhelming majority, according to the survey, with just 3% of workers believing they will be able to retire at the age of 55.
However, 13% of those polled expect to retire at 60, while 16% expect to retire at 65 and 15% believe they will only be able to give up work aged 70.
A further 2% believe they will not be able to retire until after they are 75.
Nationwide Building Society, which commissioned the study, said that many viewed older staff as a good thing.
The survey found 68% thought that having a person in a team at work aged over 60 has a positive impact and 88% believe those aged 60 and above can be excellent mentors.
Nationwide changed its rules to enable employees to work until the age of 75 in 2005.
Alison Robb, group director at Nationwide, said: "As far as Nationwide is concerned, employing older workers is a good business decision – they tend to be experienced, conscientious and hardworking."