Age counts: an inquiry into issues specific to mature-age workers [Nelson report]

This document reports on an inquiry, undertaken in 1999 by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations, to examine the social, economic and industrial issues specific to workers over 45 years of age seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment. A key conclusion of this report on labour market reforms for this group is the need to challenge and change societal and employer attitudes towards ageing. In combating employer prejudice, two major recommendations were made: one for a sustained national strategy and...  [+] Show more

This document reports on an inquiry, undertaken in 1999 by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations, to examine the social, economic and industrial issues specific to workers over 45 years of age seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment. A key conclusion of this report on labour market reforms for this group is the need to challenge and change societal and employer attitudes towards ageing. In combating employer prejudice, two major recommendations were made: one for a sustained national strategy and education campaign targeting employers; and the other for establishing an employers' forum. Other recommendations were made for dealing with a number of issues including: retrenchments and redundancies; skills training; career guidance; computer skills; traineeships and apprenticeships; longitudinal studies to provide an accurate picture of the mature-age work force; opportunities for casual and part-time work; mentoring; the role of service providers for the unemployed; financial assistance; establishing a small business; and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).