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It's Not About Age, Pathways For Engaging Mature Aged People & Existing Workers As Apprentices

Synopsis:

It's Not About Age, Pathways For Engaging Mature Aged People And Existing Workers As Apprentices (It's Not About Age) continues the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (ACCI) ground breaking research into the more effective harnessing of the skills and experience of mature age people and the retention of existing apprentices. 

Based on research funded by the Australian Government's Department of  Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEWWR) and conducted by ACCI in 2010, It's Not About Age builds on ACCI's 2009 research Worth Their Weight In Gold which investigated engagement and retention strategies for mature age apprentices and existing apprentices currently completing their training. 

Prior to the focus of ACCI and our National Member Network on mature age apprentices, there had been a gap in both Australian and international literature on this subject.

Context:

Future competitiveness in the skilled workforce will rest partly on the performance and productivity of ageing workforces and, therefore, on the efficient utilisation of older workers. While there are cyclical pressures on the labour market that create fluctuations in the supply of labour, in the in the long term Australia must maximise the numbers of skilled working age people in the workforce.

Employers need to develop innovative strategies to attract and retain valued employees to meet the vital skills needs of their business now and for the future.  As the baby boomer generation moves towards retirement, Australia will experience a shortfall of workers aged 15-44. It is estimated that by 2020 the proportion of workers aged 45-64 will increase by 34%.

It is projected workers aged 45 and over will provide up to 85% of workforce growth in the next decade.  To meet productivity demands employers will need to focus on this important age group by providing training to maintain relevant skills and 'up skill' to meet the emerging skills requirements of the workplace.