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Why we need Bunnings-style work for older Australians

Jun12
Man In Work Shed

As outrage builds over a proposal to force Australians to work until 70, experts are urging businesses to follow the example of hardware giant Bunnings and unleash the untapped labour of older workers.

Professor Hal Kendig at the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research said Australia cannot afford to discount its ageing workforce. He pointed to the example of Bunnings, which has capitalised on large numbers of highly skilled tradespeople who were unable to continue in physically demanding jobs but could offer a lifetime of experience to shoppers.

“The key to this is for wise employers to see that by going against the discrimination they are making a wise investment,” he told The New Daily.