Action on employment
It’s hard to read a business publication currently without coming across an article discussing one of the key issues faced by the UK (and most, if not all, developed countries): how best to attract and retain the skills and life experiences of older people.
And with good reason. The UK faces a huge skills shortage, exacerbated by the large number of “boomers” either in or entering their 60s, and not helped by the “great retirement” that appears to have occurred during lockdown. The crisis in our care system has led to a large swathe of the working population giving up work to care for a family member.
Many organisations are (sometimes belatedly) waking up to the fact that older workers can play a key role – not least by applying their people skills and learned experiences, making use of their contacts or by mentoring younger colleagues. They jettison this irreplaceable resource at their peril.
At the same time, the cost-of-living crisis is compelling many of this cohort to attempt to “unretire”. Equally, many older people simply love what they do, and the people they work with and for, and feel no need to retire.
It would not seem to be an insurmountable problem to bring employers and potential employees together, and supply would readily meet demand.
Except that… all too often there are barriers to older people remaining in or returning to work – their health, mobility and other commitments for instance – and adapting working practices and the workplace itself can prove essential to enable employers to tap into this resource. Less frequently, but still an issue to be resolved, can be ageist attitudes.
Initiatives such as the Midlife Review can play a big part in squaring the circle. So too can flexible working, or allowing employees to change to a less demanding role. In fact, there are myriad approaches which could help. We want this Action Area to look at this issue in the round and explore ways in which the needs of both older people and employers can best be resolved, and share those ideas and strategies with policy makers, employers and older people themselves.
Get involved
To contribute towards the AAA’s Employment policy plans or to see your blogs, papers, research or news on these pages, email: info@theageactionalliance.org
More reading
If you would like to read more about the Midlife Review, Steve Butler, CEO of Punter Southall Aspire and EngAgeNet director Tony Watts OBE have written a detailed guide to the review and its potential impact on work, wealth and wellbeing, available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midlife-Review-guide-wealth-wellbeing/dp/1781334609
The Age Action Alliance is supported by
Latest News
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Call on Government to get older people back to work
The government needs to show greater ambition for the working lives of older people if it is to meet its manifesto pledge of an 80% employment rate for the country, a collective of expert organisations is warning.
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Covid’s seismic shock on older people “still felt five years on”
Older people’s health, employment and community connection have failed to recover since the pandemic, our new analysis from The Centre for Ageing Better reveals.
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Persistent ageist myths revealed
As The Centre for Ageing Better’s “Age Without Limits” anti-ageism campaign enters its second year, it is calling on everybody to notice, challenge and change the country’s negative attitudes towards ageing and older people.
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New project puts voice of Disabled older workers at the heart of policy-setting
The Centre for Ageing Better is launching an innovative new project designed to develop new policy and practice to improve support for Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions in their 50s and 60s to find and stay in work.
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Low literacy and numeracy skills a barrier to support for millions of older people
New research from Learning and Work Institute, supported by Age UK, reveals an estimated six million people over 50 have difficulties with maths and six million have difficulties with reading.
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Closing employment gap for older workers “would generate £9 billion a year for economy”
The Centre for Ageing Better has joined forces with other organisations to create the 50+ Employment Commitment which outlines six steps political parties should take to level the playing field for older workers.
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With Covid still here, ILC issues plea to support employee vaccinations
Covid has not gone away, and with many older people potentially vulnerable to the effects of Long-Covid, ILC-UK is urging the Government to provide tax incentives to support employers who want to vaccinate their older members of staff.
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Life expectancy decline hits economy and workforce
Life expectancy for people aged over 50 has started to fall, new research from the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC) reveals. The think tank finds that changes to the health and life expectancy of people over 50 will have a significant impact on the economy.
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“Unretirement Entrepreneur of the Year” is watching everyone’s backs…
The very first “Unretirement Entrepreneur of the Year” has been crowned at the Great British Entrepreneur Award’s gala ceremony at the London Grosvenor Hilton Hotel.
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Almost one million more workers aged 65 and above since the millennium, new analysis reveals
Ageing Better’s new analysis of the latest ONS Labour Market data reveals that the employment rate of those aged 65 and above has doubled over the past quarter of a century.
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More than a million over 50-year-olds remain “involuntarily workless”
ILC UK research shows that one in ten people aged between 50 and state pension age don’t work but want to.
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“Platinum Pound” report finds UK economy could unlock billions by making the workplace more inclusive
The Platinum Pound, a new report by cross-party think-tank Demos, supported by Anchor, has revealed the UK economy could unlock £6.6bn a year by making staying in work more inclusive. The report reveals an additional £1.2bn a year could be unlocked by returning to pre-pandemic rates of later life volunteers.
Latest blogs & comments
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Why Age Inclusion is the future of Retail Financial Services
Big changes are underway within the financial services, caused by demographic shifts. In this blog for ProAge, Dominic John and Mark Glover set out how employers need to rise to the challenge.
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Age inclusion: the strategic advantage for B Corporations
Mike Mansfield of ProAge explores why age inclusion is vital for B Corps striving to be employers of choice, and how it aligns with the core values that make certification meaningful.
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Flexible working: a strategic imperative for attracting and retaining older workers
Research at ProAge, supported by insights from the Greater Manchester Older Persons Network, shows that flexibility is more than a convenience for many older workers – it’s essential, says ProAge CEO Mike Mansfield.
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A false dawn for older workers?
Labour’s first 100 days in office haven’t seen any bold new initiatives to get more older people back into work, says Tim Whitaker. Is it too much to ask that they do so soon?
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Menopause: the end of reproductive, not productive, life
Tatiana S Rowson & Mike Mansfield explore how Menopause is starting to be recognised as a workplace matter.
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Unlocking the potential of an ageing workforce: six strategies for success
As the global workforce continues to age, corporations are presented with a unique opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that older employees bring to the table, writes ILC Strategic Advisory Board member Yvonne Sonsino.
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Why older workers are giving up on traditional recruitment
“Change doesn’t happen by following the crowd but by leading it,” says Lucy Standing, founder of Brave Starts, a career consultancy for people aged 50 and over.
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Is your workplace carer-friendly?
If not, it will almost certainly hurt your business, argues Deborah Stone of Mature Thinking. That’s because caring is increasingly becoming a part of people’s lives as our population continues to age and fewer and fewer qualify for support – and the nation’s growing army of informal carers are struggling to combine work and care.
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Securing your retirement finances could mean being flexible at work
Being able to work for as long as you need in order to secure a financially secure retirement could become a lot easier after new employment laws come into force in April, writes Tony Watts OBE. But it will require flexibility from employers as well as employees.
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Four for ‘24: Four types of business who need older employees
By 2040, it’s estimated that 63p in every pound will be spent by someone aged 50 or over in the UK. Yet typically, advertising, marketing and customer support cater to a younger demographic. There’s plenty of research to show that businesses are missing out, says Belinda Basil-Jones, Director of Partnerships and Insights at AAA members…
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How can all generations thrive in multi-age workplaces?
Intergenerational workforces are increasingly common as people live and work longer. Steve Butler of AAA members Punter Southall, says businesses can exploit the breadth of knowledge and experience they bring.
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A dozen benefits of older workers to employers
With labour and skills shortages across employment sectors and to mark Older Workers Week at the end of November, Chris Walsh, Chief Executive of Wise Age sets out 12 of the great reasons to employ older people.