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Working Better-Highlights of the Report

21 April 2010

The ageing of the population has led policy-makers to put a high priority on extending working life. However, little attention has been paid to creating the conditions to enable people to work beyond retirement age. Traditional views about older workers still shape the attitudes of many employers. Our survey of the work aspirations of the over 50s, and the barriers facing them, reveals that many assumptions made about this age group are wrong.

Demographics

  • Life expectancy for those people aged 65 in 2008 - Men will live to 87 and women to 89
  • 1 in 4 babies born today will live to be 100
  • Low birth rates/more older people presents a challenge
  • Need to work longer to fund pensions
  • In 2006 10% men and 12% women of State Pension Age were in work
  • 71% people over 55 plan to work beyond State Pension Age
  • At the same time, opposing forces are pushing people out of work. By 2007 1/3 men (55-64) and 1/3 women (55-59) were unemployed
  • Older workers are finding it harder to get back into work after being made redundant in a recession

Business Case

The Economic Argument

Extending working lives by one and a half years could reduce government borrowing by 1% of GDP. In 2008 terms, a 1% GDP budget improvement was almost £15 billion.

EHRC Research

Based on a telephone survey of 1,500 people aged 50-75. The findings vary according to age, occupational status, gender, health, financial status and family responsibilities.

Ageing Population

Leading to an extended Working Life

  • 62% women and 59% men over 50 want to work beyond State Pension Age
  • 11% of over 50's want promotion or 4% want to downshift
  • 62% feel as fit as ever but faced structural/attitudinal barriers to be able to stay involved
  • 44% of 56-59 year olds and 33% of 60-64 year old have done training in last 3 years
  • 21% over 50's trained to improve their job prospects
  • Nearly a quarter of 56-59 year olds + 9% of 70-75 year olds still support children financially
  • People who chose to work longer are happy and enjoy what they do
  • Demand for flexible hours + location of work:
  •  68% over 50's unemployed below state pension age + 85% active people + over State Pension Age wanted flexible part-time work.

Recommendations

  • Removal of the DRA - the first step is ending retirement discrimination on the grounds of age.
  • Government to incentivise employers to offer flexible working for all
  • Government to fund provision of age + flexibility training for managers
  • Right to request flexible working should be extended for everyone
  • Better training and career development for over 50's
  • Comprehensive health programmes
  • Media Campaign on age + work to support the recommendations

 

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