Over 50s fear for jobs

The number of redundancies among over 50-yearolds increased by a staggering 240% last year, new figures suggest.

The total rose from 35,000 at the start of 2020 to 121,000 by the end of the year, according to an analysis by Rest Less, which offers careers and lifestyle advice to the over 50s.

Stuart Lewis, founder of Rest Less, said: "Even though redundancy rates amongst the over 50s have never been this high, our concern is that there is worse still to come with more than 640,000 over 55s still on furlough. The recruitment process is where age discrimination bites hardest, particularly at this time when the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in the workplace."

A Government spokesman said: "Older workers are a vital asset to this country and hugely employable.”