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"The age of
the New Zealand workforce is changing and employers need to take this fact into
consideration" said Ruth Dyson Minister for Social Development and Employment.
Nearly a quarter of New
Zealand’s workforce is aged between 50 and 64. The number of workers over
65 years is expected to increase from 65,000 in 2006 to 105,000 in 2011.
“Employers are doing
good things to increase opportunities for older workers, but more could be done,
said Ms Dyson.
"Today, a set of new
best practice guidelines to help employers look at innovative ways of retaining
and recruiting mature employees is being released. This will encourage employers
to tap into the talent of older workers by better understanding their unique
requirements," said Ms Dyson.
“It provides information
on recruiting and retaining older workers, work design, job structure, effective
supervision, managing performance, training and development, and motivation
and rewards.
“The guidelines are
part of The Tapping into the Talent of Older Workers project which builds on
recent important steps, in particular the legislation to overcome age discrimination
which has been important in shifting employer attitudes.
"Recent research by
Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies has highlighted changing employers'
attitudes towards older workers. Many employers recognise that older workers
are loyal, reliable, committed and have more experience. However, some employers
also believed inaccurate stereotypes such as thinking that older employees are
unable to adapt to new technologies. We need to do more to challenge these misconceptions
and combat age discrimination.
"The State Services
Commission is exploring employment trends and issues for older workers in the
Public Service and is committed to improving employment outcomes for them. The
publication of these guidelines will help employers understand the value of
older workers and help plan for an ageing population.
“A cross-agency Population
Ageing Work Programme, being co-led by the Ministry of Social Development and
the Treasury, is exploring labour and employment issues arising from an ageing
workforce along with a range of related economic and social issues,” said
Ms Dyson.
The guide, Valuing Experience:
a practical guide to recruiting and retaining older workers, is available on
www.neon.org.nz.
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