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Work/volunteering

Government wants to coax over 50s back into work

(117 Posts)
Oopsadaisy1 Sat 24-Dec-22 15:04:08

Grandparents are acting as carers for their ACs.

Self employed are possibly working cash in hand.

Others have inheritance and PP to live on, maybe after the Pandemic people are deciding to live for today and worry about tomorrow, well ……tomorrow? I just hope we don’t see poor, broke pensioners when they are older

biglouis Sat 24-Dec-22 14:59:47

Wonder how many of these "retired" people who need to boost their income have simply moved into a cash in hand side hustle for something they enjoy or can do as ad when they want?

Witzend Sat 24-Dec-22 14:59:26

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.

Lovetopaint037 Sat 24-Dec-22 14:56:16

I hope that doesn’t include over eighties. If it does I might have to refuse on the grounds I am not fit for purpose.
Also my dh can’t apply for jobs as he doesn’t know how to do a CV. Otherwise we are willing. Meanwhile a very big thank you to the younger amongst us who can still work. Thank you and a very Happy Christmas.

Pittcity Sat 24-Dec-22 14:53:39

We retired in our 50s. Were not living the life of Riley but we are Living rather than just surviving as we were when we were working.

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 24-Dec-22 14:50:29

We don’t have many people living in our lane but 2 households have stopped working because their parent (s) have died and left them considerable amounts of money.
I guess 50 to 60 yr olds can access their private pensions at 55 and if they have elderly parents can inherit at that age, often enough to retire on, let’s hope they’ve done their sums!

Aveline Sat 24-Dec-22 14:37:10

I retired at 60. Burnt out I suppose. I have seriously been thinking about finding some sort of job. I do have a voluntary one but feel a bit guilty seeing all the 'help wanted' notices in local businesses and shops. I don't think I'd be much good though and reckon any financial gain would be stealthily removed. I'll stick to my voluntary one.

volver Sat 24-Dec-22 14:35:16

Its not a lie. Why do people just not want to believe something just because they think it doesn't paint them in a good light? Out with 5 friends this week, four of us had stopped work in the last few years, while still in our fifties. All, happily, "living the life of Riley". Which means not getting up in the dark at 6:30am to go to work, and deciding what we want to do all day. And accepting that we might have a bit less disposable income because of that.

Link to the report, plus graph attached.

publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5803/ldselect/ldeconaf/115/11502.htm

Whitewavemark2 Sat 24-Dec-22 14:27:25

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.

Casdon Sat 24-Dec-22 14:01:49

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.

Ziplok Sat 24-Dec-22 13:48:56

I find it hard to believe that there are so many over 50’s (but not yet reaching official retirement age) who have stopped working and are therefore largely responsible for the labour shortage - I don’t see how they can afford to if not receiving a pension. I imagine that there are a whole host of factors causing labour shortages including Brexit (like it or not), when so many European workers left the UK to return home, and many of these positions are not being filled by UK citizens, even though the government promised they would be. Of course, it’s so much easier to blame the over 50’s isn’t it? Or covid, or the Ukraine invasion, or the weather 🙃…. or fill in further blanks with whatever comes to mind.

Sago Sat 24-Dec-22 13:41:41

My neighbours daughter, early thirties, no children is too tired to cook a Christmas lunch.
She finished work on Wednesday.
Sadly she is typical of a lot of young people, I really believe retired people will bring a lot to to the table.

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 24-Dec-22 13:37:40

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.

Grammaretto Sat 24-Dec-22 13:32:32

We- the over 60s-- are already volunteering and keeping all the charities going. I have no time for paid work.

I wonder what the incentives will be!

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 24-Dec-22 13:27:57

I meant GPS rather than Doctors - most of ours GPS retired at 55.

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 24-Dec-22 13:26:56

Do that many people retire at 50 to 60 to make that much difference? Maybe Doctors, Civil Servants, but many people have to keep working until Pension age.

Did they calculate how many people would be available in that age range I wonder ?

biglouis Sat 24-Dec-22 13:08:32

The government is blaming a large part of the labour shortage on the fact that many people over 50 have been "economically inactive" since the pandemic. They are hoping to persuade many in this group back into the workforce.

There is a strong possibility that some over 50s will have to re-enter the job market part time because of the COL crisis. However employers are going to have to alter their ideas about what to expect from older workers. For roles which are very physical you cannot expect a 50-60 year old to have the same physical stamina as (say) a 25 year old.

There is also the factor that some older people who may return to work will find themselves pulled into a higher tax bracket because of the stealth tax changes. There would be little incentive for them to formally re-enter the job market of they are going to be hammered by PAYE.