Friendly mature-age employers

I recently reported the first mature-age friendly employer awards. Organised by Adage, the awards attracted many big name employers. (You'll find the winner and 20 short listed companies in the Ask Kate section on careerone.com.au.)

Research by Manpower reveals that only 17 per cent of employers have strategies around recruiting older workers and only 29 per cent have strategies to keep the ones they already have. So there is still work to do. Recruitment and Consulting Services Association CEO Julie Mills says the time for recruiters and employers to act is now.

"The Treasurer Peter Costello's Intergenerational Report sets it out very simply: people aged 55-64 will be the fastest-growing group of workers over the next 40 years," Julie said. I know some of you have written to me about ageist recruiters but Julie has been working tirelessly to convince recruiters to lead the change in employer attitude and I applaud her efforts.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has also been sponsoring free business breakfasts for employers around the country to explain the benefits of mature-age friendly policies. There are also a growing number of specialist mature-age friendly agencies that include Adage, Hays Recruitment's Age Advantage and Plus 40.

There is still a way to go but the tide is turning. In the meantime, Catriona Byrne invites those with an opinion on this topic to join a dedicated blog on http://www.adage.com.au/.

I still want to hear from people too. And by the way, thanks to Ask Kate reader Grace du Prie for asking for an update on the issue.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au

For more useful tips read the other stories in the Job hunting advice section as well as Ask Kate and Ask Kate Archives