Number of long-term unemployed older workers jumps
- Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Today’s employment figures show that long-term unemployment (one year plus) among people aged 50-64 has jumped to 189,000, an increase of 3.3% to 44.5% on the last quarter.
This compares with a decrease in the overall long-term unemployment figure from 33% to 32.3%.
There was also a decrease in the equivalent figure for 18-24 year olds which has fallen by 2.2 % to 25.8 %.
Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director-General of Age UK said,
“This disturbing jump in the number of long term unemployed older workers is a clear signal that the Government needs to take more action to help this age group, particularly at a time when it has raised the state pension age.
“The evidence shows that unless older workers find jobs quickly, they will find it harder than any other age group to get back into work and will increasingly struggle to make ends meet in an already tough economic climate.
“Employers must be encouraged to recruit and retain older workers and to help unemployed older people find jobs.”
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