Expert Answers: Misery of being made redundant

The recession has led to soaring numbers of older workers trapped in long-term unemployment, according to Age UK, with the number of over-50s jobseekers rising by 50 per cent in the last year alone to reach a 10-year high.

The charity said the last two recessions had created a “devastating legacy of unemployment among people in later life” and warned that the latest figures could rise even higher as a result of planned changes to working age benefits.

Although the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance has fallen slightly, according to figures released by the government this morning, a total of 170,000 over-50s have been out of work for at least a year – an increase of 52 per cent over the past 12 months and an 18.6 per cent increase on the last quarter, the highest percentage increase among all age groups.

Unemployed over-50s are now at their highest level since June 1997 when older workers were still experiencing the effects of the early-90s recession. The figures threaten to undermine the government’s plan to phase out the default retirement age of 65 by October 2011, a move welcomed by anti-ageism campaigners but criticised by business groups. Critics will now argue that even if older workers wanted to work longer, there are not enough available jobs. Men comprise more than three-quarters of over-50s who have been unemployed for a year or more, while the number of older women considered as long-term unemployed has risen by a third.

Age UK said the situation would deteriorate further as 750,000 older workers are soon to be categorised as unemployed after having their incapacity benefits removed following recent government cost-cutting.

Michelle Mitchell, Age UK director, said: “This is the highest level of long-term unemployment among over-50s that we have seen in a decade, and brings back the spectre of the last two recessions which left a devastating legacy of unemployment among people in later life.

“If hundreds of thousands of 50-plus workers remain stuck in long-term unemployment, the government’s plans to ‘reinvigorate’ retirement and extend working lives will remain a hollow soundbite for many people.

“Before pushing people back into the recruitment arena or forcing them to work for longer, the government must lay the foundations of a better job market for older people with fairness and flexibility as cornerstones.”

Paul Charlson

GP from Brough

HE is probably getting demoralised. It may not be simply a case of financial pressure, which if he has had a well paid job for many years previously may not be the case. It is more likely a loss of self esteem. He needs to see his GP for an assessment. These days we usually look for a depressive illness using a PHQ-9 screening tool which is a good indicator of depression. If he is depressed, counselling in the form of cognitive behavioural therapy is helpful. The best thing you can do is chat to your father and persuade him to seek help.

Elaine Douglas

A CHARTERED psychologist who specialises in family and child relationships

READING your letter made me think about the young people who approach the company I work for looking for work experience. These young people are at the other end of the spectrum from your dad – but in a sense there are parallels. They find it tough to get work because they don’t have enough experience and so they send out speculative letters to various companies in the hope that they may be able to gain that experience. If they are lucky they find work in the voluntary, private or public sectors and that enhances their CV. We live in a very difficult economic climate and sadly although there shouldn’t be an attitude towards people of a “certain age” – there is. They may be “over qualified”. I would suggest that your dad does what someone in their 20s may do. See if you can encourage him to get involved in charity or voluntary work. If he can offer his services to an organisation to get involved in whatever he enjoys, is good at, he may find that it opens some doors for him. At the very least he will feel useful and needed and he may find that he builds up friendships and connections that could lead to something more interesting, fulfilling and hopefully gives him an income.

Cary Cooper

Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University

GIVEN it has been difficult to find a job, your father ought to think about doing something different from what he had done. To do this, he needs to do a skills audit of himself, that is, what are his positive attributes as a person, what skills does he possess and what business experience does he have. Then get him to create another list of what he would like to do that would be different from what he had done, and see which of his skills and attributes match some of these new jobs. He will find that there are many more jobs he can do than the one he lost two years ago, and jobs that might be more interesting and motivating. In some case, this might mean he will have to gain some new skills on top of those he already possesses, which is not a bad thing, because it will keep him active and more motivated. In the meantime, he might also want to do some volunteering work to keep him active so he doesn’t get more depressed, and to put on his CV.

Dr Carol Burniston

Consultant Clinical Child Psychologist

MAKE sure you let him know how much you love and appreciate him and point out that he is a good dad and that that is one of the most important jobs he can do in life. I wonder if your dad has sought any professional help regarding his job search? Advisors at job centres are in a position to advise on his CV and help him look for appropriate vacancies. Some employers actively seek older people to fill their posts as they find them helpful, more knowledgeable and they take fewer days off sick. While your father still continues his search, there are other things he could do which will help him to feel more positive and give him a sense of purpose. Exercise has been shown to improve mental health, specifically mood. Encourage him to take up an activity or sport which he enjoys, gradually increasing his level of fitness. He could also look for a voluntary project to give him an increased sense of worth and belonging; perhaps there are local charity shops where he could help part time or the local hospital may be looking for volunteer drivers, maybe there are older people living nearby who would appreciate help with their gardening?

WAYS BACK TO THE WORKFORCE

* Create a career and personal audit – Think about the career path you’ve followed to date, the jobs you did to get there, and what you can offer an employer that your younger counterparts can’t.

* Never give in – you can achieve whatever you want

* Research the jobs market

* Ask for advice – If you need moral support or advice, it can be a good idea to speak to an organisation that provides you with guidance about job-hunting strategies for older people, as well as inform you of your rights in law.

* Customise your CVs and cover letters.

* www.jobsite.co.uk