COULD older workers hold the key to boosting the UK’s sluggish economy?
Changing demographics mean almost a third of the UK workforce is now aged over 50.
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During the past 30 years, 73 per cent of our employment growth has come from workers aged 50-plus.
Factors including the cost-of-living crisis and better opportunities mean mature staff are increasingly choosing to stay in the workplace for longer.
The latest Office for National Statistics figures show the number of over-65s in employment has hit a record high, at almost 1.5million.
Meanwhile, the number of people taking early retirement has plummeted to just over a million, the lowest level since 1994.
To coax even more older staff back to work, the Government has made changes to pension allowances and is introducing “return-erships” to upskill and retrain.
A new report from insurance group Aviva says three quarters of employers think it’s important to retain employees aged over 50, with one in ten firms offering specialist support.
Aviva head of wellbeing Debbie Bullock said: “Employees over 50 can be a valuable asset, bringing a breadth of experience and skills. It is time to redefine the notion that career success means promotion, especially in later working lives.”
Among the top employers for older workers is Haven Holidays, with around 18 per cent of staff aged over 50.
The firm is now recruiting for 1,500 summer jobs.
Roles are available in food and beverage, activities and leisure, plus housekeeping, as the staycation market grows.
Talent acquisition head Nola Ferguson said: “As an age-friendly employer, we embrace the benefits that age diversity brings to our family-centric holiday parks.”
Apply at jobs.haven.com.
‘We offer a safe pair of hands’
KATHY Hanwell ran a holiday home business in France for 20 years before returning to the UK after her husband died in 2017.
Now 63, she works as a member of the seasonal security team at the Haven park in Weymouth, Dorset.
She says: “Mature people offer a safe pair of hands in challenging situations.
“Plus their years of experience with a variety of companies in different environments means they can think outside of the box and find solutions.
“In customer-facing work, 50-plus employees have experience of what good service looks like, which can be helpful for informally coaching and mentoring younger people.
“If you are older and looking for a job, give it a go. You would be valued at Haven.”
Make a midlife move
WITH most of us living into our eighties, changing career in our fifties is common.
Stuart Lewis, CEO of over-50s community restless.co.uk, shares his tips for making the most of your career in midlife.
- Evaluate if you’re still happy in your work: Midlife offers an opportunity to question your enjoyment of work. Nearly half of the self-employed workforce is aged 50-plus, so midlife can be a great time to start a business
- Embrace lifelong learning: Older staff are less likely to be offered training at work than younger counterparts. Consider how you can upskill, through your employer or independently, to futureproof your career.
- Maximise your network: With decades of work and life behind you, you’ll have built up a strong, diverse network. Nurture existing connections but also focus on building new contacts by attending industry events, joining relevant associations and saying yes to networking opportunities.
- Leverage your experience: Awareness of the benefits of multigenerational work-forces is growing and age is finally making its way into diversity and inclusion strategies. Think about how you problem-solve, mentor younger colleagues and use your experience to make better decisions today, and highlight this in interviews.
- Don’t be afraid to be bold: Many people have the realisation in midlife that they have been unhappy for years. There is a world of opportunity out there and sometimes trying something new and different can be energising.
Older and bolder
A THIRD of all midlifers expect to change their career before retiring, a new study finds.
But the report from Phoenix Insights, part of retirement savings firm Phoenix Group, reveals only 15 per cent have received careers advice in the last three years.
Additionally, 62 per cent had not received any off-the-job training from their employer over the past 12 months.
Catherine Sermon from Phoenix Insights said: “Employers, gov-ernment and careers advice providers need to do more to inspire and support people to actively plan their careers across what might now be 50 or 60 years of working life.”
For more information and careers support, check out careerscanchange.co.uk.
Job spot
SEVEN in ten hospitality firms are seeking older workers.
Log on to barcats.co.uk to find a role fast.
OAP up and away
THE sky is the limit, not your age, if you want to work for easyJet.
The Sun told this week how 73-year-old Pam Clark is the budget airline’s oldest cabin crew member.
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Now “Nana Pam” is encouraging other older staff to take to the skies in a new recruitment drive by the company.
During the past year, easyJet has seen a 160-per-cent rise in the number of cabin crew who are aged over 60.
Pam said: “When I applied for the role 20 years ago, I knew my age and experience meant I had something valuable to offer.
“Nowadays, I’m meeting more and more colleagues like me who have made a brave career change later in life.”
Apply at careers.easyjet.com/cabin-crew.
