50+ older workers
Older people continue to experience particular difficulties in the labour market. The experience of the current downturn has not led to quite the shedding of jobs for more experienced people as happened in the past, with employers finding ways to hold on to established skills. But for older people who have lost their jobs, or are starting from an unemployed position, the prospects of finding new work are tougher than ever.
This continues against the background of longer term changes in demography putting pressure on the pensions system, with the expectation that people will be needing to stay in work much longer than before. Older people face the need to work longer to secure decent conditions in retirement at just the time when employment is insecure and access to vacancies restricted.
The European Social Fund, with its longer-term perspective and role to introduce new approaches, is at the forefront of work with the 50+ age group. The fund supports The Age and Employment Network (TAEN), providing a central place for information and ideas about supporting older workers and promoting free resources for use by frontline staff. TAEN’s CEO Chris Ball debated responses by employers and policy makers to promoting full labour market participation older workers with Stephen Boon from GLE, and ESF-Works hosts a number of perspectives from TAEN’s major 2009 conference.
At the front line of employment support, ESF has been supporting some ground breaking practical initiatives, including:
If your project addresses issues in working with 50+ participants to change their career focus, to re-focus their skills and their future working lives because of the challenges that this age group faces; then one of our regional coordinators would like to come and visit you. ESF-Works will publish an article that focuses on the methodologies you are using to train, educate and upskill people towards employment. Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
