The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing a significant challenge concerning the employment prospects of millions of people aged over 50, according to recent warnings. The Centre for Ageing Better has revealed that the crisis affecting older workers seeking employment is on a scale similar to that faced by NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training).
The charity criticised the Labour government for providing little assistance or guidance to older job seekers, emphasising that while the government is addressing the NEETs through the Milburn Review, those aged over 50 are being overlooked.
Statistics show that over one in five individuals aged between 50 and the state pension age are neither in education, employment, training nor retirement. Dr Andrea Barry of the Centre for Ageing Better highlighted the urgency of the situation: “The current scale of the NEET population certainly warrants an urgent and well-resourced response from the government, and it is vitally important for the national economy that the right remedies are put in place.”
She further underscored that the employment difficulties faced by older people are just as critical. “We need the challenge of getting more of this age group back into work pushed much further up the government’s current list of priorities,” she said.
Dr Barry noted that both the over-50s and NEET groups encounter comparable challenges, requiring targeted support. “They are both an underused pool of talent whose employment rates remain significantly below those of other age groups. Their capabilities are often questioned or underestimated due to unfounded assumptions about their age, and both face considerable uncertainty and potential threats in the workplace with the rise of AI,” she explained.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions responded by outlining ongoing initiatives: “Our Get Britain Working reforms will boost employment for people of all ages by overhauling Jobcentres and providing personalised work and skills support. We provide dedicated support to older workers through midlife reviews, helping individuals evaluate their skills and break down barriers to employment, while our Women’s Employment Ambassador is collaborating with employers to enhance workplace support for women experiencing menopause symptoms.”