STEPPING UP WORK AMBITIONS
GETTING older does not have to mean stepping back from a career, with a new survey revealing more than half of 55 to 64-year-olds intend to start a new job before they retire.
Research from job site SEEK finds 27 per cent of workers in the age bracket plan to get a new job in the next year, while a further 20 per cent intend to do so in the next four years, and 8 per cent in five or more years.
About three in five 55 to 64-year-olds remain in fulltime employment, a slightly lower proportion than the 67 per cent in the total workforce.
More (41 per cent) older workers are part time or casual than the 33 per cent average for all workers as they transition into retirement, rather than jump into it.
The research also finds older workers are continuing to look for new roles and opportunities.
About 55 per cent intend to start a new job in the future — half of which plan to do so in the next year.
Helen Healey, 53, pictured left, is group fitness manager at Goodlife Health Club Morningside.
She says the fitness industry does not just embrace young people.
“I have a wide demographic in my classes, including in their 20s and 70s,” she says.
“The population is getting older and they like to see role models in the industry.”
She enjoys the flexible nature of the work, as she has been easily able to work part time.
“I started teaching very basic classes, now I teach yoga, HIIT and cycle and the PACE program,” she says.
“I want to stay teaching as long as I possibly can. We have a lot of instructors that continue to teach in their 60s.
“We have a male yoga instructor in his 70s. As long as you are fit and healthy there is no reason not to continue working.”