A woman's work is never done: twice as many still going at 65

an article by Amelia Hill published in the Guardian


Dee Flower joined the autism charity Little Gate Farm as a consultant after trying out retirement. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Dee Flower tried to retire last year, at the age of 68. It seemed, the former recruitment specialist said, like a good idea. “I found myself thinking, ‘I guess it’s about time to retire now.’”

Flower’s decision to reverse the move a month later is one of the reasons the British economy set a new employment record this week. The number of people employed in the UK is at its highest since records began in 1971 – 32.7 million people – and workers over the age of 50 are a key factor in the peak.

Describing her U-turn, Flower added: “I thought, ‘Oh my God, what have I done? I don’t want to retire!’ I felt I’d lost my sense of purpose.”

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Still ambitious for a challenge, however, Flower decided not to return to her old job. “I felt I needed to think about something completely different,” she said.

Flower attended job fairs, and after eight months joined the Sussex-based autism charity, Little Gate Farm, as a consultant, promoting their young people to employers.

“My new line managers are the same age as my children,” she said. “And that’s completely fine with me. In fact, it’s great. I feel so much happier now than when I was retired.”

Flower also represents another twist to the official job figures. According to new research, twice as many women over the age of 65 are employed in the workplace today compared with a decade ago.

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Work preferences after 50

a report from Eurofound


People aged 50+ have a wealth of experience and contribute to society in numerous ways, including paid work, informal care and volunteering. However, particularly in the Member States that have joined the EU since 2004, the situation of people aged 50+ can be a vulnerable one – especially in terms of access to healthcare, housing quality and material deprivation.

Part-time work facilitates a better work–life balance – particularly, it seems, for people aged 50+. Among people aged 50+, both in and out of employment, there is a preference for more part-time options.

Unemployed people of all ages want to work. However, unemployed people aged 50+ who can make ends meet would prefer a considerably shorter working week than those who have difficulties making ends meet – this difference is not found in younger age groups. About half of all retirees who are not in employment say they would like to work, often part-time. Proportions are higher for younger, highly educated and healthy retirees with work experience.

The desire to work among people aged 50+, both those in and out of employment, does not seem to be opposed by partners of people aged 50+.

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Employment stable in the euro area and up by 0.1% in the EU27

via Eurostat News releases

The number of persons employed remained stable in the euro area (EA17) and increased by 0.1% in the EU27 in the second quarter of 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the first quarter of 2012, employment fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

Full text (PDF 4pp)

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Employment down by 0.2% in the euro area and stable in the EU27

euroindicators via Eurostat News releases

The number of persons employed decreased by 0.2% in the euro area (EA17) and remained stable in the EU27 in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, employment fell by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27.
These figures are seasonally adjusted.

Full text (PDF 4pp)

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