Older workers 'let down'

Older workers are being let down by age discrimination, according to the Centre for Ageing Better which has launched a campaign to raise the employment rate among 50 to 64-year-olds and close the employment gap between older and younger workers.

The campaign group has joined forces with Age UK, the Institute for Employment Studies and think tank Demos to create the 50+ Employment Commitment, outlining six steps a government can take to help half a million more older workers into jobs and raise the employment rate of 50 to 64-year-olds 75% by 2030.

According to the Centre’s analysis, the next government “could boost the economy by as much as £9 billion a year by giving older workers an equal opportunity in the labour market”, while closing the gap between older and younger workers could “net an additional £1.6 billion a year in income tax and national insurance contributions”.

“Older workers are currently being let down by ageism and age bias,” it said, citing “a lack of flexible working and health support, limited opportunities for skills development and underperforming employment support” for older workers.