Your Plan- Your Future Ageing and Labour Market Participation

Ageing and Labour Market Participation provides a clear and timely insight into the labour market situation of older men and older women. It draws on data that has been available, but underutilised until now, to develop a knowledge base that should inform and shape labour market policy and practice. The report usefully focuses the attention of policy makers and programme providers on: • the need to prioritise responses to the labour market needs of unemployed older people, older people experiencing sickness and older people with disabilities • the importance of holistic responses to the labour market situation of older people that embrace education and training measures alongside health policy and equality policy • the stress that can be experienced by older people returning to work and the need for targeted support to address this The report has been prepared in a context where the legal work of the Equality Authority provides an indication of the significant barriers posed by ageism for older people in the workplace. In 2002 nearly 10 % of the Equality Authority casefiles related to the age ground. The key issues in these claims of discrimination related to recruitment and access to promotion in work. Clearly any response to the labour market situation of older people will need to address the issue of ageism and discrimination