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Thursday, January 31, 2013

United Kingdom: Survey Finds Average Age Increasing among Employees

A survey conducted by Group Risk Development (GRiD) has found that 33% of employers in the United Kingdom have seen the average age of their workforce increase over the last year, a period following the abolition of the Default Retirement Age (DRA). In addition, GRiD reports that 25% of employers said that DRA removal had enabled them to retain knowledge and experience within their business, and a further 17% felt it had increased the diversity in their workplace.

Other findings from the survey indicate that:
  • 59% of employers felt that the removal of the DRA meant they were
    more likely to recruit employees aged 50 and over;
  • 23% of employers felt that older workers were a store of knowledge;
  • 22% of employers said they were more likely to be loyal to the company; and
  • 14% of employers said that older employees had the ability to motivate other staff.
On the "negative" side of employing a more age diverse workforce, the survey found that 27% of the employers had seen an increase in absence rates or age related health conditions (such as diabetes and arthritis) since the removal of the DRA. Source: m Group Risk Development Press Release (January 28, 2013)