Katie Couric's Notebook: Retirement Age

Ernest Hemingway once said that retirement is the ugliest word in the language.

Now, it seems, several states might agree. According to the Wall Street Journal, at least 10 state legislatures voted this year to require new government employees to work more years before retiring with benefits. Lawmakers hope that will reduce long-term pension costs and help balance budgets.

In Illinois, for instance, the retirement age for new hires was upped from 60 to 67. In Utah, state employees must now log 35 years rather than 30.

In some ways, it makes sense. Budgets aside, older workers often have a lot to offer -- and gain -- in the workplace. In fact a recent study found that employment later in life can even help stave off dementia.

Of course, in an ideal world, working longer would be a choice, not a necessity. But this isn't an ideal world -- or economy.

Nowadays, too many careers are ending with a pink slip... instead of a gold watch.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.