Career Guidance for the Older Workforce
Posted: 21 July 2008
Lyn Barham spoke to the NAEGA South West Branch about a research report on guidance provision for older adults. Career management skills and the older workforce is available on the CRAC website.
The research included a literature review which considers the nature of career management skills and the literature on the older workforce as it pertains to the individual characteristics which have direct relevance to career management skills.
The report considers why the 'older workforce' matters stating that the “National Audit Office (NAO) estimated in 2004 that the relatively lower level of employment among older workers costs the economy £19-31 billion a year in lost output and taxes and increased welfare payments. For many older workers, this can contribute to poverty, insecurity and social exclusion. By contrast, employers could stand to benefit from the reliability of older workers, which can lead to lower staff turnover, greater productivity and the retention of skills in the workforce.”
The report also discusses the demographic changes which mean that larger numbers are approaching the end of their working life. Also people tend to live and work longer. All of this means that it is increasingly important that we help older people manage their retirement process to enhance their physical, mental and financial well-being in later years.
The report concludes that older people face challenges and barriers in finding satisfying employment. Also “many of the challenges faced by older people seeking work arise through factors which are beyond their personal control, and contribute to the loss of their productive participation in the workforce”
. Age discrimination is widely perceived to continue in the workforce. We are wasting talent by underutilising what people in the older age groups have to offer.
The report has recommendations for policy makers, employers, advisers and outlines the implications for adviser competence and CPD.