The government is actively encouraging businesses to access the experience and skills offered by older workers.

Businesses are failing to utilise the skills and talents of mature workers suggests a report released by the government.  The Department for Work and Pensions released the guide ‘Employing Older Workers’ and points to the benefits for business if they tap into these skills.  The guide suggests that in the next ten years there will be 13.5million job vacancies but only 7million young people who will leave school and college over that time.

Pensions minister, Steve Webb, commented: “Older people are the main untapped source of labour in this country.  Britain is in a global economic race and we’re moving towards a landscape where there will be a set of jobs that employers cannot fill with anyone but experienced older workers.  A firm that doesn’t make use of the talent pool on offer amongst the over fifties will be left behind.”