This report, funded by Ageing Better, provides evidence on the nature of paid work at older ages and how employment patterns change for people in different circumstances.
Longer working lives offer many benefits, but achieving these can pose challenges for individuals, employers and policymakers. In order to support people in their 50s and 60s to remain in paid work for longer, it's critical that we have a good picture of what paid work looks like at older ages, and how that might evolve in future.
This report provides fresh evidence on the nature of paid work at older ages, how employment patterns differ for people in different circumstances and how the situation is changing over time. In particular, it examines in-depth the transitions that older workers make, both into and out of work and between different types of employment in the run-up to retirement.
Key findings include:
- There are likely to be significant challenges for many people in their 50s and 60s finding new jobs after the end of the furlough scheme
- There are a number of reasons that finding new work may be challenging for people in their 50s and 60s
- Older jobseekers from lower socio-economic groups are more likely to struggle to find new work after a period of unemployment.
- Significant numbers of older workers would benefit from lower hours of work and more flexibility
