Targeted training is required for older workers, particularly those working in quarrying, manufacturing and agriculture, and the public sectors, to improve their employability skills.

This is according to a report from AAT, the professional body for accounting technicians and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

The report finds a “huge” proportion of older workers do not retrain with one in three over 55s citing age-related reasons for not undertaking another qualification.

The report finds this reluctance to retrain is a contributory factor to workers aged 55-64 being 12% more likely to be unemployed for more than 12 months compared to a person aged 25-54.

Additionally, the report predicts giving more support to reskilling older adults would save the government money, with projected savings of £105.2m due to the reduction of Job Seeker’s Allowance claimants over the next Parliament.

People most in need of retraining were found to be women aged 55-64 working in the public sector or in a clerical support capacity and men aged 55-64 in mining, manufacturing and agriculture roles.

The report’s key recommendations include changing the ‘too old to learn’ mentality of the 55-64-year-old age group as well as improving understanding of the contribution technological skills could make to their current job. 

Meanwhile, targeted training for the 55-64-year-old age group needs to be provided, while these opportunities should fit in with full and part-time work patterns, and employers should be encouraged to ensure that their older workers take part in training.