Unemployment seems to have taken over from economic inactivity as the hot labour force topic, but that is not to say that inactivity has gone away. In fact, economic inactivity is still one of the main causes of Wales’s dismal record on GDP / GVA.
The overall activity rate is 75.7% – some way off the target of 80%. But if we look a little closer, it is clear that almost all the ‘economic inactivity problem’ is amongst older people – people aged 25 – 49 already have activity rates above 80%.
So if Wales is to solve its ‘inactivity problem’ it could start with helping its over 50s back to work, yet most jobs schemes are focused on young people. This one seems an easy win – so why isn’t more being done?
Jonathan Richards 11:20 pm on 28 September, 2009 Permalink
People over 50 experience ill health and disability that make them less attractive to employers who, for whatever reason, cannot offer flexibility and reasonable adjustments. Someone entering the job market at 16 has contributed 34 years of work by their fiftieth birthday. Friends and colleagues can offer effective changes within the workplace to account for backache, arthritis and mental health problems. A new employer is unlikely to be so generous. When GKN closed in Dowlais in 1989 many men came and asked for a sick note. When Hoovers closed earleir this year, I am told that a large number of men went to Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil to offer as volunteers, especially as carers, with a view to training as a volunteer before being able to look for similar work. I hope that this will be a good news story over the coming months.
angela elniff-larsen 8:28 am on 29 September, 2009 Permalink
You would think that experience and the various attributes that age brings would be valued.especially in some professions. Most of the over 50’s I know have had little or no sickness ,its far more a problem of the young these days who see it as a better place than being a JCP signatory .
The problem is no jobs .B and Q in Merthyr for example laid off 85 staff before last christmas, quite a few were older.
My husband is very well qualified but he is over 55 , his only solution is to try and work for himself ,but there is very little help and support for that either .
You are right Victoria ,the support needs to be more balanced