Supporting mature-age workers good for the nation

Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis recently met with Members and Senators in Canberra, to promote the benefits of mature-age workforce participation.

The Experience+ event brought together experts in the field, including the Age Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon Susan Ryan AO, and Everald Compton AM, who will chair the government’s new Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing.

In the 2012-13 Budget, the Gillard government announced a significant suite of new measures and incentives to support mature-age Australians to stay connected to the workforce for longer if they wish.

“As Australians live longer, healthier lives, it is more important than ever to remove the barriers mature-age workers face to ensure we make the most of the vast skills and experience of senior Australians,” Swan said.

“As a community, we need to provide greater choices to older Australians as to how they spend their later years, and better opportunities to stay engaged with the workforce and the broader community.

“There are about 2 million seniors outside the workplace who are interested in working - we need to make sure we provide as many opportunities to these Australians as possible.

“Too many people see the ageing of the population only as a problem. In fact, it is a great opportunity for our economy - a growing community of active, older Australians who have so much to contribute.

“The Australian Government in this year’s Budget committed more than $100 million over four years to encourage employers to recruit and retain mature-age job seekers and to help mature-age people find and keep a job.”

Ellis encouraged Members and Senators to work with businesses in their local communities and to encourage them to embrace mature-age workers and make the most of the Australian Government’s new supports.

“Members and Senators know from assisting constituents in their local community that we are constantly hearing about the particular challenges faced by mature-age people in having their skills and experience valued and finding and keeping a job,” Ellis said.

“Despite the many benefits of hiring mature-age workers, the fact is that when a person aged 50 or over is out of work for a while, they often find it very hard to get their foot back in the door.

“And what older Australians are telling us is true - on average, mature-age people (55+) face a period of unemployment of more than double that of the rest of the population.

“As elected representatives, it is incumbent upon us to put the case to our local employers, promote the benefits of employing mature-age workers and encourage employers to give them a chance.”

South Australian businesses are now being encouraged to lead the nation in hiring more older workers, with Business SA and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) today putting the business case for employing more mature-age workers.

Ellis has launched ‘Employ Outside the Box - the rewards of a diverse workforce’ and ‘The Business Case for Recruiting and Retaining Mature-Age Workers’, the first in a series of guides to help employers tap into the talent and experiences of mature-age Australians.

“No other mainland state has an older population, and with 5500 people over the age of 55 looking for work, South Australian employers have to lead the way on mature-age employment,” Ellis said.

“In a time when some sectors are crying out for workers, it makes great sense for employers to look again at what older Australians can offer their business.

“Every Australian will grow old and every Australian deserves their experience and talents to be recognised. Besides the benefits to business of thinking and employing outside the box, it’s important that more Australians can benefit from the dignity that comes with work.

“I congratulate the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business SA on driving the cultural change we have to see in our workplaces over the coming years, and I urge every employer in South Australia to join them.”

‘Employ outside the Box - the rewards of a diverse workforce’ helps businesses develop innovative strategies to attract and retain a diverse workforce, while ‘The Business Case for Recruiting and Retaining Mature-Age Workers’ examines the benefits and practical steps involved in hiring older workers.

Ellis said the work of ACCI and Business SA complements the Australian Government’s commitment to supporting mature-age job seekers including:

• providing incentives of $1000 to 10,000 employers who recruit a mature-age job seeker over 50 years old from 1 July 2012;
• providing mature-age job seekers with support and assistance, including IT training, counselling, paid work placements and peer-based job preparation from 1 January 2013 under the $25.8 million Mature-Age Participation - Job Seeker Assistance Program;
• helping more Australian businesses become best-practice employers of mature-age people by providing an extra $15.6 million for the Corporate Champions program;
• helping more mature-age job seekers with career advice by extending the Experience+ Career Advice service to 30 June 2016.