According to press reports, almost half of unemployed people aged 50 or over have been out of work for a year or more in the United Kingdom. Although women and young people appear to be bearing the brunt of job cuts over the past year, the trend in long-term unemployment among the older workers is a "disturbing" sign that older jobseekers are being consigned to the unemployment scrapheap, experts said.
Specfically, of the 426,000 unemployed older workers, 189,000 have been without jobs for a year or more, and 111,000 for at least two years.
Specfically, of the 426,000 unemployed older workers, 189,000 have been without jobs for a year or more, and 111,000 for at least two years.
Michelle Mitchell of Age UK said: 'This disturbing jump in the number of long-term unemployed older workers is a clear signal that the Government needs to take more action to help this age group, particularly at a time when it has raised the state pension age.'Sources: Daily Telegraph "Older workers 'on jobs scrapheap' as crisis deepens" (February 15, 2012); AgeUK "Over-50s on 'unemployment scrapheap'" (February 16, 2012)
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