“There needs to be a greater understanding of why older workers are choosing self-employment, whether through desire or necessity. Many do so for positive reasons, including flexibility, but there are still significant risks associated with self-employment and insecure work. These risks – not earning enough to save adequately for your pension, working on or below the minimum wage, or taking on additional debt – can have a much more severe impact on people who have less time to recover from negative experiences and may have fewer future options. Our own research has found that older workers particularly value social interaction and a sense of control at work, which are not factors often associated with the gig economy or zero hours contracts.
“We welcome the Review’s focus on the quality of work, the importance of pay and progression, workplace health and wellbeing, and helping self-employed people to save for their future. However, there is still more to be done to tackle the issues facing older workers.
“The Government’s response to the Review must take account of the specific needs and circumstances of older workers. We need to see concerted action by Government and employers to make work more age-friendly, so that older people who want to can remain in work for longer, and to ensure that work is fulfilling and supports people to enjoy a good later life.”
