Government wants to coax over 50s back into work

LOUISA1523
Witzend
What they actually need to do, is to make childcare an awful lot cheaper. A lot of women with young children, who would like to go back to work, simply can’t, because the ruinous cost of childcare would be more than they can earn.

This is plain common sense, so obviously no government, especially a Tory one, will ever do it.
I so agree with this, but to be fair, when one set of DGC were in need of childcare, Labour were in power. It cost my DD so much for child care that they had to wait till one child started school before they dared have another.
Let’s hope KS has plans to remedy that before my DGC start their families.

Oopsadaisy1

I’m over 70 - I would need to be collected and delivered home by Taxi and have a well paid part time sitting down job, preferably something to do with reading books, a long lunch break with decent food paid for by the Employer - Oh and very long holidays.

Then I might just be persuaded back to work.

Although I really don’t think I would bother.

You are not "inactive" Oopsadaisy1 as you are not in the working age bracket. If someone in your position returned to work it would not affect the inactive statistics.

LOUISA1523

Witzend

What they actually need to do, is to make childcare an awful lot cheaper. A lot of women with young children, who would like to go back to work, simply can’t, because the ruinous cost of childcare would be more than they can earn.

This is plain common sense, so obviously no government, especially a Tory one, will ever do it.

But many low paid can claim up to 85% of childcare free with UC

Some of them may have husbands so the total income income would take them over the threshold to receive help.

I’m nearly 70 and still working part time. I work for myself and love it. It keeps me active and stimulated. I meet interesting people that I have dealt with for 40+ years. I am also able to be a bit flexible about my working hours.
If I didn’t work then I would be volunteering for something so would still be busy and committing my time.
I know lots of people that retired early and think I’m nuts but each to his own.
It does depend what the job is of course.
I do think that older people can bring their experience of life to anything they do.

As I understand the data, however, although there us an increase in economically inactive 50 + , they are not the largest group. Is that correct? How statistically relevant, therefore, is this cohort?

In my experience it is people working in the last few years chocolatelovinggran, post covid they made decisions to retire.

From the Daily Mail:

Surveys have found that people approaching retirement looked at the treatment of the older generation and thought they wanted to enjoy life before being 'packed off into a care home'.

Quite.

Some economists believe the number of middle-age people taking early retirement during the pandemic has helped fuel the nation's labour shortage which also has an impact on inflation, as firms are forced to offer higher wages to attract staff.

Are there going to be sufficient numbers of retirees who have evaluated their lives during and since the pandemic and who might have decided that a more simple life-style is preferable to joining the rate-race again, to make a significant inroad into the problem?
And as they are in demand, will they not also ask for higher wages?
Perhaps businesses must accept a smaller share of their revenues as profit?
You can only squeeze so many pips out of the consumer before he or she decides they can do without the product - or less of it.
If they pay higher wages - they might attract more staff from the younger population, and then they won't need the over 50s.

Where is the data to support this?

In the report I posted a link to at 14:35.

Where is the data to support this? The only person in my circle of friends who retired in his fifties was a police officer. The rest of us went to sixty and beyond.

69 and still working part time in a care home… and really enjoy it…

DH worked till he was 72 and loved it. We both volunteer a lot now and feel that it is good for you. And we look after DGC.

It seems odd to me to retire so early!

26 years too late in my case!

Government wants to coax over 50s back into work

No chance.
Sorry😉

I still teach part time at over 60, because I enjoy it but I wouldn’t want to be a head any more. A teacher friend in Australia taught till she was 75. Anyone fancy that?

I retired at 60 because I could. OH retired at 63. Several of my teacher/headteacher friends and a friend who was in the police force, retired in their 50s. They all received their pensions. All of them do voluntary work and/or look after grandchildren while their parents can go to work and not pay extortionate sums for childcare. Even though I had long holidays and free meals, I’m not returning to work. Why should I? If the government can’t get their act together etc., etc.

2 of my AC and partners are now 50+ and would probably love to retire or at least work p/t. But their DC are at the most expensive time - teenagers - so they cannot.

A change of career in later life might be a good thing if it was accessible.

I do know people who were in professional jobs who are now quite happy in their 50s and 60s to work as gardeners and cleaners which they find less stressful.

At my age 74 I will stick to volunteering though I still do some teaching very occasionally.

I suppose covid was a weird blessing for some - it brought on an enforced break from the treadmill and made us look around and re-style our priorities.

I have one friend who was a pathologist with the Met. She works on the tills at a supermarket and loves it.
Another had a very senior position in a branch of the NHS.
She retired years ago and now works in care in a non managerial role, or as she puts it: the coal face end.

Casdon

Surely there’s a mismatch? The over 50s who have retired early will in the main be professionals, whereas the jobs shortage is in the main in unskilled roles. I really can’t see what would tempt people who could afford to retire back into the workplace to do those unskilled jobs.

I think this is true.

I also think that there is no need to feel guilty or in any way criticised for taking early retirement, if it's an option. I don't know about the life of Riley, but I certainly don't regret leaving work at 57. I worked for 41 years - what's to feel guilty about?

I do a bit of consultancy, which brings in a little bit of money that subsidises my pension, but it also stops me feeling 'past it. That is something that I wish could open up to more older people, as we have experience and expertise to pass on if we are so inclined. It makes far more sense than asking us to compete with younger people with more energy but less experience.

Re-enter the job market if you can!

Young(under 35) managers practice rampant ageism like you wouldn't believe. And many like female job applicants to be in full command of The Four B's.......bubbly,bouncy,busty and blonde. Plus dewey-eyed youth.

But you will never get them to admit it......

Most people reaching 50 still have kids in uni and a mortgage how can you afford to retire with those two large expenses still ongoing? I retired early (60) to care for my husband who had a life changing stroke. So if they want to provide the care that I provide free of charge which I very much doubt.

Whitewavemark2

If I knew of 50+ year olds who were living the life of Riley after lockdown and no longer working, I would believe the government.

I know lots of 50+ year olds all busy working and wishing they could retire, but couldn’t possibly afford to do so for years to come.

So I think this is yet another lie, to hid the truth.

Why do you think its a lie? I know loads of 55 plus people who are retired....NHs/ LA/ banking / police/ fire service ....I could go on.....all with a big lump sum and very decent pension ( myself included) ....throw in an inheritance and lots can live ' a life of Riley ' 🤷‍♀️

Many of my colleagues retired following covid, it showed them a better way of life, I currently spend 2 hours in traffic a day, leaving when it's dark etc, I love my job, but would retire early in a heartbeat (am in my fifties).

Witzend

What they actually need to do, is to make childcare an awful lot cheaper. A lot of women with young children, who would like to go back to work, simply can’t, because the ruinous cost of childcare would be more than they can earn.

This is plain common sense, so obviously no government, especially a Tory one, will ever do it.

But many low paid can claim up to 85% of childcare free with UC

Me and many of my colleagues/friends retired at 55 ( we are nurses) ....several of us have returned ( me includex) but just 2 days a week....not really worth it to return for any more....too much tax .....but then mostly we are gone by 60....I'm 58 and may manage another year but then I will be done