The decline in the employment rate of older workers is due, in large part, to policy failure (The Guardian view on ‘unretirement’: older workers could help with labour shortages, 21 August). Primarily, it is the failure to prevent the present epidemic of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, which manifest themselves in later life – and now, increasingly, at younger working ages.
In comparison to Sweden, for example, the UK’s prevention and occupational rehabilitation services are poor, and the employment rate among those aged 55-64 is significantly lower. Large numbers of older workers are simply not fit to work – and no amount of return-to-work policies will change that.
Prof Alan Walker
Co-director, Healthy Lifespan Institute
Your editorial on “unretirement” highlights that while more than a quarter of adults aged 50-64 are economically inactive, there are problematic key worker shortages. However, there is an irony here. Some economically inactive older adults are in fact highly active unpaid carers who are propping up our social care system with its ever growing number of vacancies.
Our research shows that nearly a third of family dementia carers who were in paid employment when they became a carer have since had to give up their job to care. These individuals are far from “inactive” and their economic contribution is huge. Indeed, Carers UK and the University of Sheffield have estimated their work to be worth £162bn per year.
We don’t just need well-targeted return-to-work policies to support adult carers to return to paid employment – we need significant investment in social care.
Frances Lawrence
CEO, Dementia Carers Count
Please stop treating members of the over-55 age group who have left the labour market as if we were economic pawns to be summoned at will to work in low-wage, low-skill jobs. Half a million of us are finding meaning in our lives by learning, making new friends and keeping fit with the later-life learning organisation U3A. And all for the annual cost of a couple of pints or a modest bottle of wine.
Paul Martinez
Chair, Carlton, Gedling and District U3A
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