PRIME and its sister charity PRIME-Cymru have jointly published a report into improving the employment prospects of the over 50s.
“It is worth putting real money behind a drive to re-employ economically inactive over-50s”, says the report’s lead author Christopher Smallwood.
“In order to reintroduce them to the workforce, two things are needed: (1) widespread changes in employers’ practices relating to training, retention and recruitment, and (2) a more proactive approach from Government agencies to help people back to work, particularly in the area of self-employment.”
Some 800,000 people between 50 and state pension age are currently inactive but want to work, according to Smallwood’s analysis of the available data. The UK has a total of nine million people in this age group. At the moment one in three is workless, and one in seven on Incapacity Benefit.
“There is a huge wealth of skill and experience amongst the over 50s that UK business could benefit from tapping into”, says PRIME’s Chief Executive Laurie South. “Not enough is being done to reduce worklessness among the over 50s. Despite an increase in the number in work, the number not working is actually growing – and will continue to grow as the UK’s population ages. So effective government action is sorely needed. ”
“Meanwhile, self-employment remains the best option option for many of the 800,000 individuals eager to work. It’s something you can do for yourself. You don’t have to wait for government.”
Smallwood report executive summary
Christopher Smallwood is a leading UK economist, and has held a wide range of senior positions in government, industry, banking and media. He is a Member of the Competition Commission and until April 2005 he was Chief Economic Adviser to Barclays plc.
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