ILC-UK response to The Chancellor’s statement on the cost-of-living crisis

The UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity has welcomed the suggestion in the Chancellor’s statement that the Department for Work & Pensions is “doing more to get older people back into the jobs market”.

David Sinclair, Director of the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK) said “The question is what – and how?  The UK must have a well-thought-out strategy to fully realise the potential of older people’s contributions – both paid and unpaid.”

“Getting older people back into the job market will be vital as the Government seeks to ‘build back better’ and level up. But we need to invest in health and skills if we are to realise this.”

“We know that investing in health results in an economic dividend. People who are healthier work longer, spend more, care more and are more likely to volunteer. The Government must also focus and spend more on preventative health to keep people healthier throughout their working lives.”

“There’s a mismatch between the skills we have and the skills our economy needs. The UK workforce is ageing rapidly, which could leave 2.6 million jobs unfilled by 2030 – almost double the workforce of the NHS. To plug this gap, we need to ensure that the opportunity to learn is open to all. Age discrimination must not prevent people from continuing to develop their skills throughout their lives. And most importantly, we need to make sure that we design jobs that people want and can do for as long as they wish.”

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Contact

Contact press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 208 638 0832 for press queries. Spokespeople are available for interview.

Notes

ILC’s estimates of workforce shortages are based on their Plugging the gap research, which you can download using this link.

About ILC

The ILC is the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, and what happens next.