Working for longer has become a burning hot topic of late.
It’s no secret that the government has been trying to persuade thousands of 50-plus individuals to return to work over the past couple of years, post-pandemic. Many people didn’t bother returning to work after the third lockdown period, instead enjoying the freedom not working gave them.
And for the government that has proven to be a bit of an economic nightmare. They need older workers to come back into the workforce to help boost the economy.
According to figures from charity Age UK, there are 3.5 million people aged 50-64, currently classified as ‘economically inactive’. Of that number, 1.3 million are sick and 0.5 million are caring for their family and home. So that leaves another million plus people who could be enjoying the activity and social aspect – not to mention financial benefit – of being at work, whether full or part-time.
Skills boot camps and ‘returnerships’ for over 50s
It was clear that rounding up an older workforce was the plan on Wednesday when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised he’d make working in later life more lucrative by abolishing the lifetime tax-free limit for pensions savings. He also promised help in the form of skills boot camps and ‘returnerships.’
That’s not the only reason for returning to work at an older age though. Studies have shown working longer is good for your mental and physical health - provided it’s a job you love and that it’s not too physically demanding. And an obvious follow-on from this is that it can result in you enjoying a longer life. At least that was the findings of a study in the US Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, which noted that working even one year longer resulted in an 11 per cent lower risk of death. The study monitored 3000 people over an 18-year period.
And if that doesn’t persuade you it can be a good idea to re-join the workforce, then a 2015 study in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease found that those who worked past the age of 65 were 50 per cent less likely to suffer from heart disease or cancer. Not only that, but they were three times more likely to enjoy good health. The research was based over a period of 15 years, following 83,000 people.
Be warned though – the health benefits only work if the job is right for you. A boring job, for instance, can be stressful and result in depression, while one that is too demanding may cause you injury. Instead find a job, if you can, that not only proves mentally stimulating, but gives you a sense of purpose too.
If you’ve already decided you’d like to return to work then how do you go about finding a job you’ll hopefully like? Well, for starters, the website restless.co.uk focuses on finding employment for those aged 50-plus. There you’ll find a whole list of positions advertised, from a chef to Powerpoint designer and assistant manager for a national café chain. And, just as in general jobs boards, many of these are part-time or remote while working from home.
Tips for job seeking in your 50s and older
So, what do you need to know if you’re looking for a job later in life?
- You don’t need to include your age in your CV. Keep listed job experiences to the past decade (unless relevant to the position applied for), and don’t put in dates for school or university.
- Take up volunteering positions to get experience and learn new skills. And talking of updating, there’s lots of short IT courses you can do to give you confidence online.
- Don’t mention past illness unless you think it may affect your ability to do the job.
- Make the most of your experience – it’s your trump card over younger job-seekers and is something many employers place high value on.
Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that the UK state pension age is due to rise to 67 from 2026, and age 68 in 2044.
