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Globally the number of over 50s in the workplace varies, but a unifying trend is that those numbers are growing. On 30 June 2020, approximately 4.2 million people (16% of Australia’s total population) were aged 65 and over and many of them continue to perform jobs that are necessary for critical infrastructure operations. A rising aging population is not unique to Australia but is a trend that is mirrored globally. That is quite an attribution to our global economy.
As we all know, older adults are not a homogeneous group. People are working longer into later life for several reasons. Including:
However, getting or keeping a job at 50+ isn’t as easy as it should be. We need to reframe the issue of age discrimination in the workforce. Research by Ageing in the Workforce 2021 showed that one in five workers (20.7%) aged over 50 has encountered age discrimination in the workplace – twice as many compared to 2016 (9.6%) - with just over 40% saying they have felt patronised in the workplace because of their age.
There is still an opinion that older people are less technically able and are slower workers. However, this isn’t the experience people are actually witnessing if you speak to businesses that employ older workers. Older workers generally are skilled, have more experience, are more reliable, and have a stronger work ethic. They stay in positions longer and take fewer days off. Older workers provide customers with consistency and personal attention, and most importantly they can learn and adapt to new technologies.
There is currently a national labor shortage, and employers can benefit by filling more open positions with older adults.
A majority (85.6%) of Australia’s over 50s think staying in the workforce longer is positive; in fact more than three-quarters (75.7%) of Australians over 50 would continue to work indefinitely if they were well supported and had flexible working conditions. Ongoing employment means these workers will continue to actively contribute to economic progression. Perception has commonly been that older adults are taking more out of the economy than they’re putting in, but these figures suggest they can be a major financial contributor to society. Almost nine in 10 (88.9%) semi and full retirees are considering re-entering the workforce and more than two-fifths (45.4%) report having attempted to re-enter the workforce since the age of 50 after leaving or taking an extended pause.
Another hurdle is the need for training on modern technology and apps that are now common in many workplaces. The tech challenges of starting a new career or joining a new company can be intimidating. Today's older adults didn’t grow up with smartphones and laptops as an extension of their being. Many need reskilling, but that doesn’t mean people can’t learn or are unwilling to learn.
More and more organisations are making ‘place’ irrelevant and that means extra significance is put on using devices to provide a novel and flexible way of working and communicating with employees. This is an adjustment for much of the global workforce over the last few years, not an exclusive issue for our older generation.
Besides facing ageism, there’s also managing health conditions and balancing caregiving responsibilities with work that could be potential barriers to new jobs. Many older adults require a more flexible schedule to assure that they can take care of not only their own health but their loved ones.
GetSetUp helps educate older adults (on a huge range of subjects) in real-time, allowing the learners to ask questions as they come up.
There is a focus on upskilling to offer learners more opportunities in the job market and support them with confidence in applying for jobs that they are already more than qualified for. GetSetUp runs multiple classes on using Google apps and programs, email management, getting the most out of your device, developing your assertiveness, managing your affairs, and public speaking, which help our Learners find solutions to confidence and knowledge gaps at work.
GetSetUp conducted a 2022 Job Skills survey with 181 learners. Our survey showed that we helped learners gather transferable career skills in four main areas:
For those looking to work beyond retirement, GetSetUp classes and resources are available to help empower them to find their next role.
The impacts of lifelong learning are all positive, opening doors to finding a sense of purpose and career opportunities. It encourages us to improve our quality of life and sense of self-worth by paying attention to the ideas that inspire us.
Barbara retired from a position as a university administrator. Adjusting to retirement in a pandemic was a bit of a shock to Barbara’s system until she found GetSetUp and started sharing her passions with others.
“Before I was an educational administrator I did a lot of research and reading. By continuing my gluten-free research, I thought I could help others that have this same problem. Being the host has been very helpful to me. People ask questions and then I continue my research to answer them. I have learned some things too that I didn’t know.
Michelle is a senior data analyst for hospitals, despite working remotely she still has a lot to keep up with, regarding emerging technologies, but GetSetUp Guides make it accessible and inspirational, “The classes I took to prepare for the class [I would teach], the feedback and seeing other people in the classes have helped me to move forward. I see others accomplishing their goals and moving forward too. This gives me more confidence in my own job and my own life. I was just a wreck before and couldn’t make decisions or think straight. Scott taught me how to look good on Zoom. Then Kevin reviewed my PowerPoint presentations and taught me how to improve them.”
Diane retired at the same time as we went into our first Lockdown in early 2020, this hit her confidence badly. She just started staying home and napping a lot. She says finding GetSetUp has made her realise what she’s capable of. After taking some Zoom and other technical classes, Diane felt her technical abilities were strong enough to become a Community Host. After just two months of being part of the GetSetUp community, she proposed teaching a class herself.
“Being comfortable with the programs I’d need to use was essential, and once I knew how to run those things capably, I didn’t have any other barriers to starting a class - except my self-confidence. With some coaching, I did my preparation, and it’s been great fun. …I now better understand the value I have to add to society. I’ve published work in the past and sold stories, and maybe I can go back to doing some of that.”
There are multiple ways that going back to work or volunteering helps keep our older population healthy. From having a purpose to better brain health, work can generate happier, healthier, and more fulfilled individuals. GetSetUp classes build confidence and motivation, educate on the importance of good interview preparation and assist with building resumes and a LinkedIn presence. Classes teach the latest technologies, including getting set up with new devices and systems.
At GetSetUp, we try to practice what we preach. Since Jan. 2021, we have invested $1.1M in creators who are over 50 as they share knowledge on our platform. We offer a flexible work schedule for our older employees who work part-time to ensure they have a steady income and can enjoy this stage in their lives. We offer activities with purpose and health benefits to help offset the caregiving burden.
Judy is our Director of Guides and Creators and has been with GetSetUp since conception. Her role has evolved and she now works on building, mentoring, and leading a world-class team of GetSetUp Guides. Judy passionately believes in GetSetUp’s product, classes, and approach. She says,
“GetSetUp is an exciting company as we satisfy two needs. We provide economic opportunities to older adults teaching as Guides and other functions. At the same time the Guides are providing great online learning experiences for our Community. It’s a win for the Guides providing the service and for those learning from the Guide’s knowledge.”
By reducing the digital divide we help support our learners who may be interested in applying for some of the 10 million jobs currently available. Through reskilling and upskilling, GetSetUp is wholeheartedly supporting our global economic progression.
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