We’ve contacted the minister for employment asking her to build a partnership to promote the benefits of older workers and age diversity to, employers through a national campaign as they consider how to help economically inactive over 50s
See our Letter below
We are pleased to learn that your government is considering ways to improve support for over-50s who are out of work, aiming to reduce the number of those currently deemed ‘economically inactive’ and not receiving DWP support.
While exploring your options, we at Wise Age Ltd. – London’s first and leading specialist age and employment charity – would like to highlight both the barriers older job seekers face and the valuable opportunities older workers present to employers.
We believe it’s crucial to address not only the supply-side challenges, such as improving support and training for over-50s both in and out of work, but also the demand-side issues, stemming from widespread and often institutional ageism within many sectors, including the public sector and the recruitment industry.
In addition to being the largest demographic among the long-term unemployed, over 1 million economically inactive over-50s are actively seeking work.
Many of these individuals are not long-term sick but are crrently ineligible for unemployment benefits. Alongside those registered as unemployed, this group is ready and willing to offer employers their vast knowledge, experience, and commitment.
With the right leadership and partnership, there is an opportunity to promote the significant benefits older workers bring to the workplace, including increased profitability, productivity, and staff retention.
Our experience shows that only focused, age-specific, and localised support can make a difference. Our success rate of placing 45% of registered clients into employment is far above the standard support offered by the DWP and regional contractors, using these tried and tested methods.
However, we believe the biggest obstacle remains in overcoming the Agest myths and prejudices that many employers and recruitment agencies hold. The reality is that older workers not only boost business performance but also play a critical role in helping younger workers integrate more effectively into the workforce.
We urge you to engage with partnership initiatives that promote age diversity, involving stakeholders across the voluntary sector, local and regional government, and the DWP. With the professional expertise and experience we bring, a ‘training the trainers’ approach to key age advocates such as newly recruited Age Champions and 50+ Work Coaches can build networks of best practice.
These efforts will harness the talents of older workers to increase GDP, address
skill shortages, reduce dependency on imported labour, and help lift millions of older people out of unemployment, poverty, and isolation.
We look forward to contributing to these initiatives alongside our fellow organisations in the age movement.
Please also find linked here our summary of the situation facing over 50s around employment and some example recommendations for action sent out as part of the International Older People’s Day .
We look forward to your reply
Best regards,
Chris Walsh
Chief Executive, Wise Age Ltd
www.wiseage.org.uk