NETER: A new labour force measure
Far too often, older people are invisible in labour market statistics. The NETER measure seeks to fix this.
NETER tracks labour market outcomes of people aged 50-State Pension Age (SPA).
NETERs is a measure of people Not Employed in Training, Education or Retired (NETER). In essence, it puts a number and rate to people aged 50-SPA who are not working but also not retired.
2.9 million NETERs in the UK
According to 50-SPA data sourced from the Oct.-Dec. 2025 ONS labour force survey
NETERs over time
Today, NETERs account for 2.9 million people aged 50 to SPA in the UK, just over one in five (21%) of this age group. Following the SPA increase to 66 and the onset of Covid-19 in 2020, the number of NETERs rose substantially, from 2.4 million in 2018 to 3 million in 2020. Since then, it has remained largely consistent at just under 3 million.
There are currently over 500,000 more female NETERs than male. In the last 13 years, a significant gender gap has formed between women and men, influenced by equalising the SPA between women and men between 2010 and 2018.
NETERs interested in work
By the end of 2025, nearly 925,000 people aged 50-SPA were interested in or actively seeking work - the highest level since 2020. This figure is likely to increase further in the coming years as the SPA increases to 67, which could leave thousands more people facing financial insecurity.
What are NETERs doing instead of work or retirement?
More than half of NETERs (55%, 1.6 million people) have a long-term illness or are Disabled. This highlights the important relationship between health and labour market participation in later life. Caring is also an important reason, although there are significant gender differences: 22% of women NETERs provide unpaid care for family member or other person compared to just 8% of men.
NETER resources
Summary report
Our summary report launches the new NETERs (not in employment, training, education or retirement) measure. It shines a light on the normally hidden experiences of those aged 50-SPA who face exclusion from work and retirement.
NETER consensus statement
Ageing Better is not alone in advocating for the value of the NETER measure. Read our consensus statement to see the organisations that have joined us in calling for the adoption of NETER as an important indicator of the labour market status of people aged 50 to state pension age.
Press release
The government is rightly tackling the youth unemployment crisis but is overlooking similar issues amongst the 50+ age group. That is why the Centre for Ageing Better is launching a new campaign urging the government to keep track on the number of 50+ people not in education, training, employment or retirement (NETER).
