Over 65s active in workforce

Figures just released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the number of of over 65s working has doubled since the year 2000. The question is: do people continue working past pensionable age for the love of their job, or is it due to the need for older workers to supplement their meagre state pensions?

There is also the fact that many people as they approach 65 continue to owe mortgages and other debts which means they need to continue working.

Clearly people should not have to remain in work or seek new employment in order to supplement their inadequate pension. Older people in the UK are at much disadvantage compared to those in European countries where pensions are nowhere as meagre.

Many over 60s continue to work because they want to. Older people are increasingly keeping their jobs and many are finding new ones, while over 60s' employment seems not to have been affected by the recession and has gathered pace since ten years ago.

The ONS findings indicate that fears that over 60s would suffer from age discrimination are often unfounded, despite over 50s having difficulty finding employment following redundancy.

The good news is that employers' attitudes are relaxing in regard to taking on or retaining over 60s so it must be that age and experience do count for a lot in the workforce!

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