Research

TIME and EXPERIENCE is the compiler of  a major review of all research papers regarding employment and enterprise among people aged 50+ in the UK published since 2000. 

A handful of “Killer Facts” (UK) are:

People aged 50 – SPA (60/65) wanting work but unable to find it = approx. 1 million.

 Approaching 65 and wanting to stay on in work past 65  = 41%, rising if part-time or more flexible working can be arranged  = 100,000 in 2009/10.

Wanting to stay on past 65 but refused – 2008/9    =  25,000

Work, health and absenteeism — Older workers are less likely to take time off work than are people aged 16 – 34.

Older workers are less likely to have an accident at work (but it may be more serious if they do).

Self-employment – Of those people working aged 50 – 59, approximately 25% of men  and 9% of women are self-employed.

Of those people working aged 60 – 69, approximately 34% of men and 17% of women are self-employed . The figure for men rises to over 40% after 65.

Business Start-up –The greatest motivator for starting a business at 50+ is redundancy.

Businesses started for such negative reasons at 50+ are just as likely to succeed as those started for positive ones.

The durability of businesses started in later life is far greater than for those started when younger, (over 70% by comparison with under 20%).

More “killer facts” are available from TIME and EXPERIENCE and will be published here from time to time.