Older workers: Strategies to extend working lives

Abstract

Australia's population and workforce are ageing and the continuing trend for early retirement of the Baby Boomer generation, combined with low birth rates, will result in a labour shortage. There is therefore an imperative to both retaining older workers and finding suitable, attractive opportunities for them to return to the workforce. This paper firstly analyses the published literature concerning the implications for organisations of the ageing workforce and for extending older employees' working lives. Secondly, this paper discusses Australia's comparative position in embracing strategies for extending working lives, and presents a table summarising the main strategies identified in the literature.