Over 50s Aussies stay on the jobs trail

Older Australian workers have been moving back into the workforce with people over 50 adding 104,000 full-time jobs in the year to February while the number of under-25s who lost full-time jobs totaled 91,500.

As well the number of under-25s who were unemployed or out of the workforce increased by 129,000 while the number of over-50s unemployed, retired or taking time out decreased by 3,000.

By February this year, 30% of men aged 65 to 69 were working and 58% of men aged 60 to 64.

Women employment rates were lower with 14% of those 65 to 69 in work and 38% of those in their early 60s.

Unemployment increased to 17.7% for people aged 15 to 19, 8.8% for those 20 to 24, and 6.6% for the 25 to 29 year olds.

But for those between 45 and 64 the unemployment figure was from 3% to 4%.

The figures have just been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.