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Hundreds of thousands of older jobseekers would be saving into an occupational pension if only they could find a job‚ according to Age Concern. 1 The charity is calling on the Government to act urgently to help older jobseekers back into work so they can boost their quality of life and make essential retirement savings.

The warning comes as Age Concern launches its new report ‘Not ready for the scrapheap: looking for work after 50’. New research published in the report shows that a lack of access to meaningful training‚ ageist attitudes‚ and not enough realistic advice and support‚ are just some of the reasons why almost a million over-50s who want to work cannot find a job.

Many older people cited financial difficulties in later life as a major motivation for wanting to find work‚ with some needing extra cash to pay basic bills and others desperate to build up their pension before retirement or meet other financial commitments.

The research2 was conducted through a series of focus groups at Age Concern employment projects across the country. The participants‚ all in their 50s and 60s‚ expressed strong views about the barriers preventing them from re-entering the workforce.

Some participants highlighted gaps in their experience‚ training and skills as a factor in their lack of success in finding work:

“People have qualifications‚ different types of certificates which you need nowadays for work‚ and until you’re actually made redundant you don’t realise that you need all of these qualifications.”

“I need to train up… but it’s expensive‚ and I’ve got to get a job to pay for it.”

“My course will only take a few months… but [the Government] won’t fund it. Yet they’ll send me on a course to learn how to get a job‚ how to speak to people‚ how to go to interviews‚ how to shoot paintballing… but they will not pay for practical job costs. It’s a disgrace really. We are capable of putting money back into the country… so why doesn’t the Government cater for us?”

Many of the jobseekers reported blatant age discrimination when applying for work:

“I decided I’ll phone up the head of the training organisation… ‘Well how old are you?’ ’59.’ ‘Oh you’re much too old.’ So that was it. Done. End of story.”

“Age is treated like a disability; you want to hide your age... I’ve been asked my age at interviews at the end‚ ‘what’s your date of birth?’ and then ‘oh’. And nothing.”

Some described the limits placed upon them by conditions such as diabetes or the effects of workplace injuries‚ and their fear that they would find it difficult to find an appropriate job:

“I’ve become diabetic and of course when you fill in these forms… well I’ve never been on the sick for 10 and a half years. You know‚ once you become diabetic they put you on all kinds of medication just as a precaution… you have to take them as a precaution because they say you’re at risk. But I though ‘well how do I fill in the form?”

The lack of realistic advice and support available to them was also raised by many participants:

“Some of [the jobs] are totally unsuitable… all they want to try and do is to get you into a job… just so from their point of view they can be seen to be doing something.”

The charity is calling on the Government to give older people the opportunities and support they need to continue working into their 60s and beyond. The economic case is strong: by 2021‚ the number of workers aged 16-49 is expected to drop by a million‚ yet there will be one and a half million more people aged 50-69. The current under-employment of over 50s is costing the UK economy around £30 billion every year and this is set to get worse unless the Government acts quickly. 3

Age Concern’s Director General‚ Gordon Lishman‚ said: “The Government wants people to work for longer to help solve the looming pensions crisis. But unless it actually helps older jobseekers back into work this won’t happen.

“The new age laws are a good starting point but much more still needs to be done. Older people looking for work need far more practical and emotional support‚ and ageist attitudes must not be tolerated.

“A transformation of the workplace is clearly long overdue but targeted programmes must also be put in place to support those who are looking for work or to build new skills.”

Recommendations made by the research participants included the provision of one-to-one personal support for the older jobseeker from a trained worker‚ assessing their skills and experience and giving them realistic advice on potential jobs and training opportunities. Short-paid work placements or trial work periods‚ to enable jobseekers to gain experience with employers‚ and support to improve access to IT were also popular suggestions for practical support.

Notes for editors

1. There are close to a million people aged over 50 who want to work (source - Factors Affecting the Labour Market Attitudes of Older Workers‚ DWP‚ 2003).  If they moved into work half could be expected to join an occupational pension scheme (assuming that those returning to work have the same characteristics and eligibility to join schemes as those currently at work – source General Household Survey‚ 2004).
2. Age Concern commissioned Dr Clare Collins at Elborough Consulting Ltd to carry out qualitative research with older people who are actively looking for paid employment. The research took the form of six focus groups – three men’s and three women’s groups. In total 49 people aged between 50 and 65 were included. The research took place in September 2006.
3. Age Concern’s Response to A New Deal for Welfare‚ 2006.
   • A PDF of the report can be downloaded at the top right of this page. For a hard copy‚ further information‚ or to arrange an interview‚ please contact Helen Wanless on tel: 020 8765 7514 or email Helen Wanless.
   • Age Concern spokespeople and case studies are available for interview. Please contact Helen in the media team (contact details as above). Radio producers: Age Concern has an ISDN facility.
   • Age Concern is also publishing its new title‚ ‘Your Rights at Work’‚ written by Andrew Harrop and Susie Munro‚ tomorrow (11 November). Part of the bestselling ‘Your Rights’ series‚ this is a comprehensive book designed to guide people through difficulties at work‚ and finding work‚ in later life.  Priced at £8.99‚ readers can purchase copies of the book by calling Age Concern Books on 0870 44 22 120. Please contact Helen in the media team (as above) for further information‚ a review copy or to set up a reader/ listener giveaway.
     

For general enquiries please contact us.

Journalists contact:

Age Concern England
Helen Wanless/Emma Hayes
Telephone:
020 8765 7514/7515
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07071 243 243