45-64 year olds A brief glimpse

Employment Labour force participation by year olds has increased in recent years - women for a while, men more recently - growth of part-time work. In 2006 (census) 9.6 million people in labour force: 3.3 million were aged years (just under 35%) 3.3 million were aged years (just under 35%) –1.5 million women –1.8 million men –2.1 million were employed full-time (64%) 185,000 people aged were also in the workforce 185,000 people aged were also in the workforce

Unemployment Low unemployment rate, but older workers tend to take longer to find work and more become discouraged In 2006 around 125,000 were unemployed and looking for work In 2006 around 125,000 were unemployed and looking for work –Men – 71,000 –Women – 54,000 82,000 were looking for full-time work 82,000 were looking for full-time work 26,000 women and 16,000 men were looking for part- time work 26,000 women and 16,000 men were looking for part- time work

Occupations Largest groups of year olds are: Largest groups of year olds are: –Professionals (675,000 ) –Managers (526,000) –Clerical and admin workers (517,000)

Men aged Three main occupations: Three main occupations: –Managers (358,000) –Technicians and trades workers (346,000) –Professionals (327,000)

Men aged Largest groups in industries: Largest groups in industries: –Manufacturing (256,000) –Construction (196,000) –Transport, postal and warehousing (150,000) –Public administration and safety (140,000) For men aged the main industry is agriculture, forestry and fishing (18,000) For men aged the main industry is agriculture, forestry and fishing (18,000)

Women aged Three main occupations: Three main occupations: –Clerical and admin (374,000) –Professionals (346,000) –Community and personal service (177,000)

Women aged Largest groups in industries: –Health care and social assistance (336,000) –Education and training (227,000) –Retail trade (152,000) –Public admin and safety (97,000) For women aged 65 – 74 the main industry is Health care and social assistance (11,000) For women aged 65 – 74 the main industry is Health care and social assistance (11,000)

Skills and qualifications Higher levels of education attainment are associated with greater labour force engagement Higher levels of education attainment are associated with greater labour force engagement Education attainment is growing Education attainment is growing ‘Flow through’ as currently highly educated cohorts age ‘Flow through’ as currently highly educated cohorts age

Quals - men aged Three main groups: –A small group of older males with qualifications for associate professional/professional occupations –A larger group with qualifications for a skilled occupation –A much larger group of older males with no formal school or post-school qualifications.

Women aged A very large group of older women with no formal qualifications A very large group of older women with no formal qualifications A smaller but still large group of women with qualifications for associate professional/professional occupations A smaller but still large group of women with qualifications for associate professional/professional occupations

Non-school qualifications Of people aged (Census 2006): –260,000 held postgrad diploma or degree –551,000 held a bachelor degree 268,000 men, 283,000 women 268,000 men, 283,000 women –255,000 had an advanced diploma or diploma –896,000 held a certificate 251,000 women, 645,000 men 251,000 women, 645,000 men 759,000 – cert III or IV 759,000 – cert III or IV

Participation in skills development Women aged tend to participate more than men - consistent with different career stage Women aged tend to participate more than men - consistent with different career stage Participation by older workers in formal VET has remained stable Participation by older workers in formal VET has remained stable Participation in work-related training has increased considerably. However, it is strongly related to full-time employment. Participation in work-related training has increased considerably. However, it is strongly related to full-time employment.

Employer-supported training Employer support for training declines with age for both women and men. The probability of receiving employer-provided training is highest for workers aged in their late 20s and early 30s and lowest for the oldest members of the workforce. Employer support for training declines with age for both women and men. The probability of receiving employer-provided training is highest for workers aged in their late 20s and early 30s and lowest for the oldest members of the workforce. Employers tend to support training for men more than for women. This may be because a larger proportion of women is in part-time employment. Employers tend to support training for men more than for women. This may be because a larger proportion of women is in part-time employment.

Formal VET Older students are about a fifth of all VET students and this proportion has not changed since Older students are about a fifth of all VET students and this proportion has not changed since The majority are between the ages of 45 and 54, with only a small proportion aged 55+ years. The majority are between the ages of 45 and 54, with only a small proportion aged 55+ years.

Leaving the workforce Average retirement age last 5 years - 60 years, Average retirement age last 5 years - 60 years, –males (61.5 years) –females (58.3 years) Decisions affected by many factors including: Decisions affected by many factors including: –Access to adequate retirement income –Eligibility age for government age pensions –Health –Interests, skills and capabilities –Competing responsibilities –Redundancy –Ability to find appropriate work –Cultural norms

After age 55… Workforce participation still declines substantially. Those most likely to remain at work are: ‘Stayers’ working for satisfaction ‘Stayers’ working for satisfaction Those working out of financial necessity (Weller 2004). Those working out of financial necessity (Weller 2004).

How to encourage and support workforce participation, especially after age 55 ? Governments - carrot and stick, programs Governments - carrot and stick, programs Employer attitudes and other barriers Employer attitudes and other barriers Skills development alone not enough, but can help Skills development alone not enough, but can help