News
Redundancy Survey by Wise Owls
21 June 2011
A survey conducted by Wise Owls a leading over 50s employment & support agency, has shown 46% of over 50s recently made redundant felt they were coerced, and less than one third of them were able to find re-employment.The survey was conducted as part of Wise Owls on-going Age Equality Campaign with the intention of looking into redundancy statistics in more detail. Earlier this year Wise owls had produced a research project looking into ageism in the public sector particularly looking at County and London Borough Councils. The results showed over 50s were disproportionately targeted with 66% of all redundancies falling on the 50 plus.
The survey also showed that the vast majority of those made redundant were forced (78%) and less than a third found employment again (32%). ONS statistics show that the reemployment of over 50s is at the lowest period for over a decade.
Chris Walsh the director of Wise Owls said “The survey comes at a time when mass redundancies are taking place across the public sector, leaving many over 50s facing poverty, at a time when we are being asked to work longer. ”
Below are the findings.
Total number of valid responses: 119
How were you made redundant?
• Forced: 93 (78.15%)
• Voluntary: 17 (14.29%)
• No response: 9 (7.56%)
Do you feel it was because of your age?
• Yes: 50 (42.37%)
• No: 64 (54.25%)
• No response: 4 (3.39%)
Do you feel you were coerced?
• Yes: 55(46.61%)
• No: 56 (47.46%)
• No response: 7 (5.93%)
Did you look for work again afterwards?
• Yes: 110 (96.49%)
• No 4 (3.51%)
If so, did you find work?
• Yes: 35 (32.71%)
• No: 72 (67.29%)