Ageing workforce deserves more
“While universities are responding to workforce ageing as best they can, [it] will not be enough to meet Australia’s future workforce needs,” Professor Philip Taylor, director of research and graduate studies at Monash University, claims.
“While universities are responding to workforce ageing as best they can, [it] will not be enough to meet Australia’s future workforce needs,” Professor Philip Taylor, director of research and graduate studies at Monash University, claims.
Professor Taylor is the director of a conference to be hosted by the university in December which focuses on workforce ageing.
The conference Older Workers and Work Ability, will be attended by keynote speaker and Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis, and Ms Susan Ryan AO, Australia’s first Age Discrimination Commissioner.
Professor Taylor, who has spent more than two decades researching in the field of age and the labour market, says the conference will consider how workforce ageing can be addressed through measures including the prolongation of working lives, age management, work ability over the life course, skills maintenance and changing perceptions of older workers.
“Beyond a much greater number of older workers, our workforce is ageing faster than our general population, especially in vital areas such as health and education,” Professor Taylor says.
“Often, and particularly in the private sector, there is an incorrect assumption that older workers are somehow less productive than their younger peers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” he adds.
According to Professor Taylor, research largely shows productivity does not decline with age, and older workers bring a degree of experience that “adds to overall productivity levels”.
What do you think needs to happen for Australia to encourage older workers into the workforce? Share your thoughts by commenting in the box below.
