Speaking in response to the latest labour market statistics published today (Wednesday 13 April 2011), Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN – The Age and Employment Network, says:

 

“These figures are a bit of a “curate's egg” – a mixed picture - for older workers. On the one hand we have a rise in employment and a drop in economic inactivity but this is set against a stubborn long-term unemployment rate.

 

“The rise in employment among people aged 50 to 64 is a welcome trend, particularly with the fall of 37,000 in the level of economic inactivity for this group.

 

“However, this change is still relatively small compared with the much bigger picture that 1.34 million men (24 per cent of the group) and 2.24 million women (39 per cent of the age group) are classified as economically inactive, neither seeking work nor able to accept it if offered.

 

“The durability of the long term unemployment problem among older jobseekers is a further source for concern. Not only have the numbers for 50+ unemployment gone up but nearly half of men who are unemployed have been so for 12 months or more. In this respect, at least, the situation is starting to mirror what occurred in previous recessions.

 

“As many of these people will be expected to find work under the new Work Programme this puts into perspective the size of the task the Government has to face.”

 

-ends-

 

Notes to Editors

 

Media contact: Mark Smith, Third Sector PR

Tel: 020 7240 4646 Mob: 07590 041 301 Email: mark@thirdsectorpr.co.uk

 

Notes to editors

 

·         TAEN has comprehensive briefing materials on older workers and the recession, including case studies, available on request.

 

·         TAEN spokespeople are available for interview on the numbers above or through Mark Smith on the contact details above.

 

·         TAEN – The Age and Employment Network works to promote an effective job market that serves the needs of people in mid and later life, employers and the economy. TAEN is a network organisation. Its members include a wide range of organisations from across the labour market, including employers, professional bodies, unions and many others. TAEN informs and advocates for effective age management policies at all levels and is an important source of information on everything relating to age and employment

 

·         Relevant extracts from today’s labour market statistics include:

 

·         A rise of 63,000 in employment to 7.34 million (65%) over the past quarter for 50-64 year olds - the rise being split almost 50/50 between men and women (+32,000 for men; +31,000 for women) .  

 

·         A lower rise in the number of 65+ people in employment (+15k to 885k : 8.9%) The rise was all accounted for by an increase in the number of 65+ women in work (+20,000), the number of 65+ men in work fell by 5,000

 

·         50+ unemployment rose by 6,000 over the previous three months to 370,000. This age group has the highest proportion of any age group of those who have been unemployed 12 months and over. This figure rose by 12,000 (to 117,000) (45.8%) - which accounted for all the 'all-age' increase in long-term unemployment of +11,000.

 

·         The 50+ claimant count fell slightly (-800) between February and March 2011 and again the highest proportion of claimants 12 months and over (22.9%) are in this age group.

 

·         Economic inactivity among the 50 to 64 age group fell by 37,000 over the past three months to 3.58 million (31.97%) falling 18,000 amongst men (to 1.34million: 24.2%) and 19,000 (to 2.24 million: 38.9%)for women. Economically inactive people are those who have not sought work in the past four weeks or an unavailable to start in the next two weeks.