United Kingdom: London Assembly Reports On Improving Working Environment for Over-50's

The London Assembly has issued a report finding that the city is the worst place in England to look for a job if you are over 50 years of age. According to the report from the Assembly’s Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee--“UB50?: Access to the labour market for people over 50 in London", inner London has the highest rate of unemployment amongst people over 50 in the whole of the country--twice the national average, and more than 20% of London’s unemployed are over 50. In addition, the report says that recent research found that one in five managers and personnel officers admitted to discriminating against workers on the grounds of age.

While the Assembly welcomes the coming age discrimination protection laws in Britain, it said more neded to be one to help older Londoners. It recommended that:

• there needs to be a coordinated and integrated approach to employment services for older people in London, within an over-arching strategy,
• more accurate research is needed to establish the numbers of older people looking for work, to ensure that the support services for older people receive the funding levels they require, and
• the London Learning and Skills Councils need to prioritise people over 50 for education and training support.

Source: News Release London Assembly (February 28, 2006)