They say experience is everything in business, sadly this isn’t the case for a lot of over 50s, with three in four (72 per cent) deprived of career growth from their current employer. With a rising retirement age and the prediction that by 2020, a third of UK workers will be aged 50 or over, new research begs the question – should more be done to support older workers?*
Over a third (37 per cent) of people in their fifties are working in middle management or below, showing plenty of room for progression with at least another decade of work before retirement. Yet, even with the state pension age due to increase to 66 for both men and women by October 2020, the research shows that 41 er cent of workers over 50 feel there is a lack of opportunities available to them at their current workplace. This poses the risk of over 15 years’ untapped potential as workers’ careers stagnate and their amassed knowledge and experience isn’t utilised.
When it comes to progression, workers in their 50s are uncertain of how to achieve this, with a third (34 per cent) stating they are not at all aware of what they need to do to secure a promotion. Men are more confident, with 27 per cent claiming they know exactly what they need to do, compared to just 19 per cent of women.
It is not only a lack of awareness that is hindering people in their fifties from career progression. A fifth (21per cent) note that a lack of training acts as a barrier to their development. Of those who have had access to training, 90 per cent have undertaken it, showing those in their fifties are eager to learn and are prepared to add more strings to their bow if the opportunity arises.
Overlooking the upskilling of older workers poses a risk to UK businesses – with two thirds of employers reporting a skills shortage last year, the older segment of our workforce could add value and boost output. If progression paths aren’t made clear, 45 per cent of workers in their fifties would look for a role elsewhere.
Alexandra Sydney, Group Marketing Director at Totaljobs, said,
Our research reveals a significant proportion of the UK workforce believe they are being overlooked for promotion opportunities. As life expectancy increases and the number of older workers rises, employers need to ensure they cater to the needs of all employees across the generations, lest they see a dip in engagement and productivity.
Tackling age-related bias both during the recruitment process and within workplace culture is essential to fostering an inclusive environment that values longevity of experience, while also acknowledging that learning and development doesn’t become less relevant with age. Older workers clearly see the value of training opportunities, so employers should look to understand where this cohort want to upskill, or even reskill, in order to further their career.
Alongside this, promoting inclusive employment policies and highlighting progression paths is essential in making sure experienced workers feel valued. Failing to invest in older workers could lead to them feeling devalued and ‘checking out’ long before retirement.
Chris Hickey, UK CEO at Robert Walters, said,
The fact remains that older workers will continue to represent a growing number and proportion of the labour market and so it is not wise to switch off training and development opportunities for those reaching a certain age. Not least because of the impact it will have on motivation, productivity and diversity.
Workers in mid-life have typically amassed significant skills, experience and knowledge that can be invaluable to their employer. In this candidate-short market – exacerbated by Brexit-related concerns and increased demand for highly skilled labour – companies need to utilise this opportunity and consider fine-tuning hiring and development strategies in order to attract and retain older professionals.
The key takeaway from our findings is that an ageing and underused workforce is not an issue of the future, but a problem that exists right now.
The research also identified some of the industries that are leading the way in creating opportunities for progression. People working in the insurance, environment and education sectors feel they are most aware of how to land a promotion (64 per cent, 50 per cent 42 per cent respectively). Meanwhile, just nine per cent of people in sales, 13 per cent of social care workers, 22 per cent of lawyers and 23 per cent of health professions feel that they know their route to promotion.
Some sectors create plenty of opportunity for older workers, with those in media (75 per cent), HR (71 per cent), IT (70 per cent) and financial services (6 2per cent) among the most likely to have been promoted at their current workplace. However, many workers in their fifties experience a slowing of their career, with a quarter (25 per cent) of those working in science, a third (30 per cent) in health and almost two fifths (37 per cent) in education having not been offered a promotion by their current employer.
*Research from Totaljobs in collaboration with Robert Walters
Interested in eliminating bias in the workplace? We recommend the Unconscious Bias in the Workplace training day.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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