After the baby boomers have retired, midway through this century, there are likely to be only two people of working age for every person aged 65 years and over. Retirees are leaving the workforce at a rapidly increasing rate. This is leading to a skill shortage in many areas.

What makes this worse is the low labour force participation rate of mature age people in Australia. This is how many are actually working and how often. We have a growing group of older people whose talents are being lost to the labour market.

Consider these facts and projections

• Currently about 230,000 workers are leaving the Australian workforce annually – but only 170,000 are replacing them.
• By 2010 many of the 1950’s baby boomers will have also retired, and the numbers leaving accelerate until then – 1000’s more will be leaving the labour force over the next 3 years.
• However by 2010 the numbers entering the workforce will have dropped dramatically – some predicting as few as 120,000 people will be entering the workforce by then per annum.
• Past research showed that many HR Managers would not look at a job application from someone over 50 years old – these biases and policies are now being challenged by the lack of available people, and companies are changing their approaches
• In recent years many large firms including major retailers have discovered that workforces of predominantly young people are less productive. They have now opted for blended age workforces.
• 45% of working age people over 50 are not in paid work.
• Australia has the oldest workforce profile in the world and other economies are far better positioned to maintain their labour supply.
• Many employers are offering more flexible conditions to attract semi-retired mature age workers back to their workplaces. Accommodating domestic needs, illness, other interests and offering flexible hours has been found to be a key to attracting mature age workers.
• Recent changes to superannuation for people over 60 years of age make it very attractive to return to work as your can draw tax free on your super to top up your pay.

Many mature age people are not working or only working part time. Research has indicated that given the right situation and support many of these people who are not working would return to some form of paid work. Often these mature age people have received little employment services assistance or support as they have not been on Centrelink benefits.

The jobWISE program is an opportunity for mature age people wanting paid work to gain the extra information, advice, and support they need, maybe for the first time. This support can often be the difference in getting or not getting a job.

The program is about informing, equipping, and networking mature age people who want work to the employment opportunities and services available to assist this to happen. The program involves a one day workshop and for some participants who want more support there is a 4 week program of group sessions to assist their job hunting.

Employer support

The Bounce Back into Work program has and will continue to develop strong links with employers. Employers understand that they need mature age workers, both to run their businesses successfully, but to assist them to fill vacancies that they have traditionally given to younger workers. Many organisations over the next five years will lose many of their workers to retirement creating a large labour shortage, and the need to look for workers of all ages.

The Bounce Back into Work program involves all employment services and as such a large number of employers become involved. This is an opportunity to promote the benefits of employing mature age job seekers, and to better inform them of the different issues facing many mature age people. The involvement of employers will also generate job opportunities and vacancies as many employers are regularly recruiting in today’s labour market.

The program includes the setting up of an Employer Support Group to provide practical support to mature age job seekers participating in the program. This includes support like: being a guest speaker, workplace tours, mock interviews, work experience, and opportunities to apply for positions. By building closer ties with these larger employers we hope to generate more employment opportunities for participants.

What past participants thought

Past mature age job seeker participants of jobWISE programs that were run in the same way as this new round of workshops, were asked to evaluate the program. Here are some of their comments:

• Designed for mature aged workers – not a kids thing
• All of it was great, thanks!
• Access to lots of helpful people, both employers and service agencies
• Networking and meeting new people in the same situation
• Group leaders were very friendly, genuine, and helpful
• Strategies to turn barriers into stepping stones
• Getting info on local labour market trends
• Boosted my enthusiasm
• To realise that there are many people in the same situation

If you want to know more about what people who have undertaken the jobWISE programme click here.

If you want to know more about how people have used services to assist themselves
click here.