MORE JOBS NEEDED FOR OLDER PEOPLE

CALL COMES AS CORONAVIRUS FORCES A SLIGHT DIP IN THE RETIREMENT AGE

OUT-OF-WORK older people need help to find new jobs - or they risk being “thrown on the scrapheap”, a charity has warned. Government figures show that the coronavirus pandemic has brought a slight drop in the age of retirement, as many workers face redundancy.

It has meant some older people have chosen to claim their pensions early, rather than seek new work in an uncertain and increasingly competitive jobs market.

But now Age UK has warned that could lead to a drop in standards of living among people who do decide to retire earlier than planned - and has called on the Government to help.

It comes as long term trends show the average retirement age for both men and women has been creeping up after decades of decline.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “Being able to work for longer is generally a good thing, as it shows there are more opportunities for people who want or need to keep earning money as they approach retirement.

“However, it’s important to remember that there are many others who would love to have a job, with all the financial and social benefits that brings, but who at present are unable to keep working, whether that’s because of health conditions, age discrimination, or changes in the jobs market.

“The pandemic has brought all this into sharp focus, and early indications are that people in their 60s have fared particularly badly.

“For many this will have long term consequences for their income and standard of living in retirement.

“It’s imperative that the Government acts quickly to introduce measures to help older workers get a job, and that they don’t throw these people on the scrapheap.”

New figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that between April and July this year, the average age of retirement for men was 65.2.

That is a slight dip from 2019, when the average age of retirement stood at 65.3 - the highest it’s been since 1980.

For women, the average age is now 64.2 - also slightly less than the retirement age of 64.3 last year, which was an all-time high.

The latest figures cover the period during the first lockdown, when many businesses shut down and thousands of workers were laid off or faced lengthy periods on furlough.

HM Revenue and Customs has said that this has likely resulted in more people than usual retiring early after being made redundant.

However, the full impact of Covid-19 on pension plans and retirement is still not known.