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Key Facts

"It’s easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions" - Jessamyn West - Author

Unemployment 

  • There are currently 384,000 unemployed over 50s in the UK, 4.5% of the • total over 50 population, (Nov 2010) 
  • This is lower than at the same point last year, 4.7% in November 2009
  • However, it is higher than in 2008 when the unemployment rate for •over 50s was 3.6%
  • The rate of unemployed over 50s for men is slightly higher than for women, 5.6% compared to 3.1%

Redundancy 

  • In 2010, 26.53% of the UK’s redundancies have been aged over 50 
  • This is at its highest point in the last 10 years • The redundancy rate in the public sector was much higher than the national average, with 66% of all redundancies in County councils and 57% of redundancies in London Borough councils being over 50.

Reemployment 

  •  In 2010, 16.59% of over 50s found reemployment • This is up 0.21% on the previous year 
  •  However, this increase is significantly lower than the increase in jobs vacancies between 2009-2010, 3.75% Sickness/Absence 
  • 50-64 and 64+ years olds are absent less often than their younger counterparts, absence rate of 2.4% and 1.9% respectively, compared to the national average of 2.5%.

Pay 

  • 50-59 year olds earn on average less per year than 30-39 and 40-49 year •olds; £28,356 compared to £29,004 and £30,443 respectively. Over 60s earn on average £20,895 per year

Training 

  • 24% of 50-59 year olds and 13% of 60+ year olds took part in some form of training last year. This is lower than other age groups.

More facts

  • For the full list of Age and Employment statistics click here.