A report evaluated a project designed to encourage the use of Jobcentre Plus back-to-work services among the over-50s. Pilot projects with greater integration and involvement between the providers and Jobcentre Plus generally fared better than those where relationships were more distant.
Source: Gerwyn Jones and Rita Griffiths, Over 50s Outreach Pilot: Qualitative research, Research Report 401, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Nov
A report examined the personal experiences and opinions of people aged over 50 who were looking for work, the difficulties they had faced, and the things which had helped them. Financial problems were a major motivation for seeking work: but only a minority of people expressed finance as their sole motivation. The majority felt strongly that paid work was key to leading a fulfilling life, with factors such as self-esteem and personal identity, self-motivation, and general interest in life being particularly strongly emphasized.
Source: Clare Collins, Not Ready for the Scrapheap : Looking for work after 50, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Report | Age Concern press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Nov
An article examined how individuals' economic circumstances, and in particular the ability and willingness to work, changed from age 50 onwards.
Source: James Banks, 'Economic capabilities, choices and outcomes at older ages', Fiscal Studies, Volume 27 Issue 3, Institute for Fiscal Studies (020 7291 4800)
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
An article sought to define 'substantive equality' in the context of new age discrimination laws. It said that this should be derived from considerations of transparent decision-making, and the need to respect the dignity of the individual.
Source: Jonathan Swift, 'Justifying age discrimination', Industrial Law Journal, Volume 35 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
A report provided qualitative evidence towards the evaluation of the 'IAP50plus' pilots, which trialled the benefits of making participation in the 'intensive activity period' mandatory for New Deal25plus participants aged between 50 and 59. The pilots were delivered without undue difficulty largely because, with quite small numbers of customers involved, they represented only a fairly modest extension of existing practice.
Source: John Atkinson et al., Evaluation of the Intensive Activity Period 50plus Pilots, Research Report 388, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Sep
An article said that new regulations against age discrimination, due to take effect in October 2006, were an important step forward: but they contained exceptions which effectively legitimized some aspects of age discrimination at work.
Source: Malcolm Sargeant, 'The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006: a legitimisation of age discrimination in employment', Industrial Law Journal, Volume 35 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Sep
A trade union report said that over one million people aged 50-65 who wanted to work could not get a job - because employers would not recruit older workers, or retain the ones they already employed, by investing in training or making minor adjustments for disabilities.
Source: Ready Willing and Able: Employment opportunities for older people, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294)
Links: Report | TUC press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Aug
A series of research reports looked at the challenges faced by nine sectors of the economy relating to the recruitment, training, and retention of older workers.
Source: Press release 10 August 2006, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171)
Links: DWP press release | Links to reports | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Aug
An article said that there was considerable management discretion over the manner and timing of individual retirements from work. Government needed to recognize this, and therefore that a concentration on urging individuals to work for longer and delay retiring might be missing the real target for policy change.
Source: Sarah Vickerstaff, '"I'd rather keep running to the end and then jump off the cliff". Retirement decisions: who decides?', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 35 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
An article examined the effect of ill-health on retirement decisions. Using a range of econometric techniques, it showed that adverse shocks to individual health stocks predicted individual retirement behaviour among workers aged from 50 until state pension age.
Source: Richard Disney, Carl Emmerson and Matthew Wakefield, 'Ill health and retirement in Britain: a panel data-based analysis', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 25 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jul
A study found evidence to support the government s plans to make the intensive activity period of the New Deal 25+ programme compulsory for those over 50. Those moved on to the compulsory scheme were more likely to get a job, though also a little more likely to move on to other benefits. The greatest improvement occurred among those with the fewest educational qualifications.
Source: Richard Dorsett and Stefan Speckesser, Mandating IAP for Older New Dealers: An interim report of the quantitative evaluation, Research Report 362, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | PSI press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A paper analyzed the labour market transitions of older men and women using data from the British Household Panel Survey. Benefits and health status were the two most important determinants of retirement.
Source: David Haardt, Transitions Out of and Back to Employment Among Older Men and Women in the UK, Working Paper 2006-20, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex (01206 873087)
Links: Working paper
Date: 2006-Jun
A themed section in an annual publication on social policy developments dealt with ageing and employment.
Source: Social Policy Review 18: Analysis and debate in social policy, 2006, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jun
A survey found that around 70 per cent of employers were actively seeking to recruit people aged between 55 and pension age.
Source: Recruitment, Retention and Turnover: Annual survey report 2006, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (020 8971 9000)
Links: Report | CIPD press release | FT report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2006-Jun
A report explored the extent to which employment policies and practices accorded with equal opportunity with respect to age. 56 per cent of establishments had an equal opportunities policy which addressed age: but equal opportunities training addressing age was only carried out in 19 per cent of establishments.
Source: Hilary Metcalf with Pamela Meadows, Survey of Employers' Policies, Practices and Preferences Relating to Age, Research Report 325, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report | Summary | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Mar
The government published regulations designed to outlaw age discrimination in employment with effect from 1 October 2006. No worker would be forced to retire before 65, and those who were sacked because of their age would be able to claim unlimited compensation.
Source: The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, Draft Statutory Instrument, Department of Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Draft Statutory Instrument | Explanatory note | DTI press release | TUC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2006-Mar
A report presented the findings of a qualitative research study to examine how to best encourage the 60-64 age group to take up or remain in work.
Source: Sarah Vickerstaff et al., Encouraging Labour Market Activity Among 60-64 Year Olds, Research Report 531, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book analyzed the concepts of ageism and age discrimination in social policy.
Source: John Macnicol, Age Discrimination: An historical and contemporary analysis, Cambridge University Press (01223 312393)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan
