Our response to the Government’s Fuller Working Lives strategy

The Centre for Ageing Better supports the Fuller Working Lives strategy, issued today (2 February). There are around 3.5 million people not in work between 50 and the state pension age, and around a million of those stopped work before they were ready. By 2022, one in three of the working age population will be 50 or over. It is therefore increasingly important to support older workers to remain in fulfilling jobs as well as supporting people back into work.

Having a longer working life, in a fulfilling role, can not only boost income and savings, but also keeps people healthy, active and connected.

The measures announced today, including older claimant champions in every Job Centre Plus district, and testing new approaches to support older people back into work are welcome steps. The Centre for Ageing Better is working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to develop and trial new ways of helping people over 50 who are out of work or are in low paid insecure jobs. More needs to be done however.

The strategy highlights that not enough employers are taking steps to change their policies and practices to adapt to the ageing workforce, so we welcome the call to action for employers to do more.

Anna Dixon, Chief Executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, said:

“We know that being in fulfilling work for longer is key to people being able to prepare for a good later life. Good work is important financially but is also a major source of social connections, good health, and provides a sense of purpose.

“We want more people aged 50 years and over to be in fulfilling work that supports a good later life, so we welcome the government’s Fuller Working Lives strategy launched today.

“But this is just the start – to achieve a significant increase will need concerted effort from employers as well as government, and a change in individual attitudes. This needs to include support for carers, access to lifelong learning, support for people with health conditions and disabilities at work – and an end to ageism in the workplace.

“We are pleased to be partners with the Business in the Community Age at Work campaign. We are working with employers to draw together and share the evidence about age-friendly workplaces, learn from what leading employers are doing and spread what works.”