UPTA warns 224,000 self-employed workers could retire by 2028

The Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA) has warned of a significant impact on the economy due to the aging of the self-employed workforce. Projections indicate that approximately 224,000 self-employed workers could retire between 2026 and 2028, representing roughly 6.4% of current members of the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA).

Official data shows a steady increase in retirements, rising from 55,563 in 2023 to 64,267 in 2025. Applying a compound annual growth rate of 7.55%, UPTA estimates that annual retirements could reach approximately 80,000 by 2028. This trend represents a nearly 44% increase in annual retirements compared to 2023 levels.

This demographic shift poses a challenge to the continuity of various economic activities, particularly in small commerce, hospitality, professional trades, and rural municipalities, where finding generational replacement is already difficult. UPTA advocates for policies that support business succession to prevent the loss of traditional businesses.