26 January 2010 – Older Workers Statistical Information Booklet
This report presents key data on older worker’s employment, labour market participation and developments within older worker employment. It is based on Labour Force Survey data for Great Britain (quarter 2, 2009).
The main findings are:
There are 20.2 million people aged 50 and over in Great Britain. Of these 9.0 million are aged between 50 and State Pension Age (SPA), accounting for 24.4% of people aged 16-SPA
71.8% of those aged 50-SPA are in employment. This is lower than the employment rate for people aged 25 to 49 (80.1%) but higher than for those age 16-24 (52.2%).
Looking at the PSA target; the gap between the 50-69 employment rate and the 16-SPA employment rate is 16.8 percentage points, a reduction of 1.6 percentage point on the previous year.
In the last year, workers aged 50-SPA have been negatively affected by the recession. There has been a 0.6 percentage point drop in the employment rate and a 1.3 percentage point rise in the ILO unemployment rate.
Older workers are more likely to work part time than their younger counter parts. 24.6% of those in work aged 50-SPA compared with 21.0% for 25-49 year olds.
Employment rates vary by English government office region and country, from 77.6% in the South East to 63.2% in the North East.
Self employment is more common amongst those aged 50-SPA compared to younger workers.17.3% of those in work aged 50-SPA compared to 12.6% for the 25-49 year olds and only 3.6% of the 16-24 year olds.
People aged 50-SPA have spent on average 13.4 years in their current employment, compared with those below 50 with an average of 6.1 years.
50-SPA group has a high level of people with no qualifications. 17.6% those aged 50-SPA report no qualifications, compared with 9.6% of those under 50.
ILO unemployment is lower amongst those aged 50-SPA (4.8%) compared to those younger than 50 (8.9%).
People aged 50-SPA are more likely to be long-term unemployed. 30.7% of those unemployed aged 50-SPA compared with 21.0% of those under 50.
Inactivity rates of those age 50-SPA are higher then that of those below 50. 24.6% of the 50-SPA age group are inactive compared to 19.9% of those below 50.
Note to Editors
Older Workers statistical information booklet is published by DWP in fulfilment of a Government’s commitment to publish information on employment statistics on older people. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the Departments research website at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/agepositive.asp.
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