The "Elderly People Working" (Retirement Age in the Workforce) (Episode: "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", 1991)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Elderly People Working" (Retirement Age in the Workforce) (Episode: "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", 1991)

• What happened: The episode subtly points to older people working beyond traditional retirement age, hinting at a future workforce that would need to keep working to sustain themselves.
• Reality: By the 2010s and 2020s, many older people began working past the traditional retirement age due to financial pressures, the increasing cost of living, and the desire to remain active. The gig economy also opened opportunities for older workers.