Prime time: Be ready for a whole new age at work

Prime time: Be ready for a whole new age at work

The government is coming under further pressure to introduce more effective measures to help the unemployed over 50s get back into work.

Although there's been a steady rise - with latest figures showing that 70.5% of those aged between 50 and the state pension age are now employed - that still leaves 2.7 million out of work, with up to one million wanting to get back to work but unable to find jobs. This time pressure is coming from the cross-party Public Accounts Committee which has been looking into the issues raised last autumn by the National Audit Office on tackling the barriers facing older people.

Endorsing the NAO's recommendations, the PAC is calling on the government to set specific targets to evaluate the success of New Deal 50 plus, its flagship scheme which the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has spent £250m on since it was launched in April 2000.

Although it's estimated that the scheme has helped 158,000 people, it's by no means clear if they would have found a job anyway.

Among other key elements of the scheme that need to be addressed is the time barrier which doesn't apply to lone parents and the disabled looking for jobs. Access to help under New Deal 50 plus is only available to those who've been out of work and receiving a qualifying benefit for at least six months.

So, too, does the impact of replacing the employment credit - paid directly to the individual - by the working tax credit which, as well.....continued below

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as being less generous, is paid in arrears through a tax code, with anecdotal evidence indicating that it has significantly reduced take-up.

The PAC is also calling for more focused performance targets at Jobcentre Plus outlets as an incentive to focus on those most in need. That includes ensuring that those who advise the over-50s either already have the relevant experience, or get specific training.

And more resources are needed to enable those with specific needs to be referred to specialist advisers. There should also be targets to measure any progress in the employability of those who've been helped but have yet to find work.

Regional Development Agencies also need to be set explicit targets to encourage them to prioritise the needs of older workers.

The large numbers still claiming incapacity benefits also raised alarm bells. The PAC is concerned that even if Pathways to Work pilots (set up to identify ways of helping people off incapacity benefit) proves successful, no resources have been allocated to roll it out throughout the country.

Though the government has so far failed to take up any of these proposals, it's at least moving towards providing a more flexible range of services at Jobcentre Plus offices that can be tailored to meet the needs of individuals and local labour markets. The bad news is that though the Building on New Deal changes, proposed almost a year ago, were due to be piloted later this year, they've now been put on hold until next year.

And valid though the PAC recommendations are, they have disappointed campaigning organisations like the Third Age Employment Network for not taking the issue any further forward.