Older People in the Workforce Symposium on Older People 4 September 2006 James Buwalda

Presentation Outline New Zealand Context An Ideal Labour Market Department of Labour - work programmes Opportunities and Challenges Cross Agency Collaboration

Growth driven by labour utilisation, not labour productivity

An Ageing Population Like many other western countries, population aging is one of the most significant issues facing New Zealand in the coming decades

An Ageing Population

Labour force participation Employment rates for older people in NZ are high compared to other countries but we cannot be complacent.

Labour force participation rates

Ideal labour market High participation of all population sub-groups Efficient transitions in and out of the labour market Skill levels are high Life experience (including caring experience) is valued and recognised Workers continually upskill and retrain where necessary Opportunities for training, promotion and employment benefits are available to all

Ideal labour market Workers remain attached to the labour market during time out for study, caring and other activities Career information advice and guidance is available to all at any point during a working life

Where can DOL best add value? Increasing participation Improving quality of work Improving efficiency of labour markets Career Information Advice and Guidance from a policy perspective

What kind of work Promotion of good/best practice Research Measurement and evaluation Sharing information

Cross-Agency Programmes Choices for Living, Caring and Working Workplace Productivity Work/Life Balance Sector and Regional Engagements Quality flexible work

45+ labour market participation Research into people aged 45+ who are not participating in the labour market Why? What would assist them? How do we engage with them? What role is there for career information advice and guidance?

Issues to Consider Agreement on age parameters for groups and sub-groups Agreement on terminology Mature or older People or workers Working effectively and efficiently with other organisations

Next steps Co-ordinate work with other agencies Work within existing priorities Co-ordinate action plans Keep talking to each other