'Increased unemployment' for older workers

'Increased unemployment' for older workers

22.9.2008

Men aged between 50 and 65 have been most affected by the jobs cuts in the UK, statistics show.

Official figures by the National Office of Statistics reveal unemployment rates to be at 5.5 per cent, which is an increase of 0.2 per cent.

There was also a decrease in the number of people aged 50 and above in employment, as the number fell by 20,000. Of these, 17,000 were men.

Age & Employment Network chief executive Chris Ball believes that employers are favouring younger workers, Personnel Today reports.

"The unfortunate and unpalatable truth is that some of those people in their 50s who have recently been made redundant can now effectively kiss their working lives goodbye," he said.

Speaking about the unemployment figures recently, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress Brendan Barber said the country needed a "co-ordinated economic response" to "put money in the pockets" of low income families.

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