Concerns remain over rising unemployment among older workers, according to Chris Ball, chief executive of TAEN – The Age and Employment Network.

Ahead of the TAEN and European Social Fund Conference at The International Convention Centre in Birmingham next Tuesday, Ball says that while older workers may not so far have been hit as hard as in previous recessions, or compared to other age groups in this recession, there is still cause for concern. 

“Though starting from a low base – especially compared to other age groups - unemployment among the 50+ age group has risen by nearly 38% over the past year.
 
“Our own recent survey of older jobseekers showed that nearly three quarters of respondents felt that employers viewed them as too old to recruit.
 
“So helping people aged 50+ remain in work by up-skilling or re-skilling, or supporting them back into work if they’ve fallen out of the labour market, are really crucial.   
 
“Thankfully, there are hundreds of projects around the country, part-funded by the European Social Fund, trying to do this.  We want to explore with them just how effective they are at the moment and what more they could be doing.”