Page 24 - PWM2024_MARCH EBOOK

BETTER BUSINESS

Aged, but

not out

One of the reasons for this is one of the lowest
unemployment rates in 50 years – 3.8% – com-
bined with a large number of people leaving the
workforce for a number of reasons, including ill-
health, by Adam Bernstein Poland, Romania and Greece (albeit
T from a low fertility rate and low
he UK has managed to
avoid recession for the partly because of migration). And
moment even though it’s Japan has a serious problem resulting
suffering an unpleasant
bout of inflation. One of
the reasons for this is one
Emma Delap, managing associate
of the lowest unemployment rates in immigration.
at Lewis Silkin, sees increased life
50 years – 3.8% – combined with a expectancy and declining fertility
large number of people leaving the rates driving the ageing of the world’s
workforce for a number of reasons, population and says that “this demo-
including ill-health. graphic challenge looks set to con-
Indeed, Office for National tinue and there are now more people
Statistics (ONS) data published in aged 65 and older than there are aged
2022, based on Census 2021, found under five”.
that between June and August 2022, Employers, globally, are struggling
“around 2.5m people reported long- to recruit. And indeed, the print sec-
term sickness as the main reason for tor has recognised this and is looking departure of their more experienced staff along with attempts to hire oth-
economic inactivity, up from around for solutions. ers from the same generation.
2m in 2019.” Back in February 2023, Printweek
But of course, there is more to the reported that “printers have said they And there is in fact a body of evidence to show that older workers can
story. A recent post on current affairs are happy to hire older workers as the bring much to the table.
website The Conversation, ‘What is government attempts to get over-50s A 2017 report from the Centre for Ageing Better, What do older workers
driving current labour market short- back into work” and that “the major- value about work and why? reckons that there are clear benefits to employ-
ages and how older workers could ity of Printweek readers have said ers in retaining older workers and keeping them engaged.
help’, notes that while some think that age is no barrier to recruitment It noted that just because a worker has grey hair doesn’t mean that they
Covid is the main cause of workers in their business and they regularly cannot perform well beyond state pension age: “Many older workers may
departing, the real reason is more hire staff over the age of 50”. actually be more adept in their role because of the expertise they have
basic: a general decline in workers gained; they often have highly developed communication skills and can
aged 35 years and under along with The older worker comes with confidently solve problems, handle tricky situations and contribute well to
an ageing workforce. benefits teams. Older workers often have unique insights and good judgement
And this isn’t a problem that is Keeping the employment cycle gained from their years of experience.”
unique to the UK as countries around running requires more than a decent From a practical perspective, Delap feels that “older workers have lots of
the world are experiencing demo- job with appropriate pay and condi- skills and experience to offer, employers can benefit by taking steps to
graphic change along with falls in tions; it also requires either the retain their existing workers as they get older as well as to recruit older
population. As a January 2023 young to feed into the process or the workers into their organisation”.
Euronews story, ‘The countries old to stay employed.
where population is declining’, com- Given that there’s very little that Legal background
mented, China’s population fell for employers can do to influence the It should be said at this point that age is a protected characteristic under
the first time in 60 years and num- country’s birth rate, that leaves them the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). In short, this means that employees must not
bers are falling in Italy, Portugal, with only the ability to influence the be treated less favourably due to their age unless this can be objectively jus-

24 PrintWeek MENA March 2024 www.printweekmena.com