A new government plan will help reduce ageism in the workforce and push the value of older workers, Age Concern says.
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Age Concern's chief executive Karen Billings-Jensen has welcomed the new action plan to keep older people working which was launched yesterday.
The Older Workers Employment Action Plan will help people aged over 50 to upskill, find work, and stay employed, while also helping employers to be more inclusive and plan for an ageing workforce.
Dr Ayesha Verrall Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Minister for Seniors Dr Ayesha Verrall said older workers faced unique challenges when it came to paid employment.
"Whether that's being made redundant and struggling to find a new job or having limited options when they do look for work," she said.
"This action plan acts as a blueprint on how the government can help support and encourage older people to stay in the workforce if they want or need to."
Verrall said the plan was even more important as New Zealand recovered from the effects of Covid-19.
"Keeping these people and their skills in the workforce is key to keeping our economy strong," she said.
Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said the government wanted every New Zealander who could to be earning, learning, caring or volunteering. She said this contributed to a well-functioning labour market and would help lift wellbeing.
A third of the New Zealand workforce is aged 50 or older, and almost half of 65- to 69-year-olds are employed.
Billings-Jensen said the plan would help reduce ageism against older workers by highlighting the problems they faced and busting myths about them.
She told Morning Report it was important for employers to understand the benefits of hiring older workers.
"We run the risk of losing many people with their skills and experience if, as a society, we don't start having conversations around how they can be retained in the workforce and the benefit of that intergenerational work and knowledge."
Billings-Jensen said while some older people worked past the retirement age because they needed to, others did it for the social connection.
With housing ownership dropping and many older people having to pay off mortages past 65, financial pressure was a reality for many.
The pandemic had shown the importance of flexible employment, such as working from home.
"There are so many benefits for workers of all ages to have flexible arrangements."
Billings-Jensen is confident the plan will provide tools to give the issue of older people remaining in jobs some impetus.
It will make sure the structures "take into account the benefits of older workers".
