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Older workers' perspectives on training and retention of older workers
The aim of this study is to inform public and policy debates and discussion on Australia’s ageing population and workforce by offering an analysis of the views of older workers on the training and retention of this group of workers. The perspectives of the group themselves have been largely missing from previous research. The views of older workers from a range of industries were obtained.
- Across those surveyed, around 70% stated that, to achieve a better lifestyle, they would either need or would choose to work past retirement age (at least part-time). Large majorities of the respondents favoured workers being able to work beyond retirement age.
- Increasing retention of older workers is not so much a matter of persuading or inducing the workers to seek work beyond retirement age. Rather, as the analysis indicated, the issues influencing retention are more related to removing perceived discriminatory barriers and some important disincentives in existing federal or state policy (for example, workcover and insurance provisions).
- Large majorities of those surveyed saw a need for an attitudinal change among younger workers and employers in relation to age-related stereotypes. This is despite only a minority reporting negative attitudes from their own colleagues or employers towards older workers working beyond retirement age.
- Older workers favour ‘train the trainer’ courses to equip them to train or mentor younger workers. They also advocate more equal access to training programs to enable them to update and enhance specific skills in their particular fields and to keep up with developments in technology, especially in computing.
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