Over-50s

The over-50s are the group most likely to face long-term unemployment due to COVID-19, according to the latest report released by the Office for National Statistics.

Living longer found that while the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been greatest for younger workers, older workers aged 50 years and over have been affected to a greater extent than those in the middle age groups. 

In the period December 2020 to February 2021, employees aged 50 years and over were more likely to report working fewer hours than usual (including none) in the past week because of the coronavirus than those aged under 50 years. Those aged 65 years and over were the most likely to say they had worked reduced hours.

Over a quarter of furloughed employments are people aged 50 years and over (1.3 million), with three in 10 older workers on furlough thinking there is a 50% chance or higher that they will lose their job when the furlough scheme ends.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/livinglonger/olderworkersduringthecovid19pandemic