Rafal Chomik and Fatima Jamal Khan
This research brief takes stock of the latest trends and present the newest research insights, particularly from CEPAR researchers, of whom over 30 are featured throughout the brief.
The brief is in four parts. Part I sets the macro demographic context, presenting past trends and projections for the future. These combine population, participation, and productivity, in what is known as the 3P framework, to show that more mature workers could increase economic prosperity.
Part II outlines trends relating to health, caring, education, and social attitudes, which are some of the commonly cited examples of barriers to work.
Part III assesses outcomes for older workers in Australia compared to other countries, to prime-age workers, and over time. These imply that the age-friendliness of Australia’s labour market is lagging, and that, while there are positive signs of progress, some mature workers, particularly women, continue to experience poor outcomes.
Finally, Part IV presents research on what employers can do to respond. This includes the helpful 3i framework, developed by CEPAR researchers (Andrei and Parker, forthcoming), which proposes a series of strategies to help employers better Include workers over the life cycle, Individualise their responses to different circumstances, and set up processes that better Integrate workers of all ages in an organisation.
The brief concludes with a call for government to implement a coherent, multipronged strategy to support an ageing workforce.
