Ageing and employment policies = Vieillissement et politiques de l’emploi: Australia

In 2001, the OECD launched a review of policies to improve labour market prospects for older workers. The aim of this review is to examine both supply-side and demand-side aspects of this topic. Older workers have been defined as those aged 50 years and over. The review argues that many policy measures and workplace practices create significant barriers to older workers continuing to work and that current reforms will not be sufficient to encourage later retirement and to lessen the risk of future labour shortages. This report on Australia is part of a series of OECD country reports that...  [+] Show more

In 2001, the OECD launched a review of policies to improve labour market prospects for older workers. The aim of this review is to examine both supply-side and demand-side aspects of this topic. Older workers have been defined as those aged 50 years and over. The review argues that many policy measures and workplace practices create significant barriers to older workers continuing to work and that current reforms will not be sufficient to encourage later retirement and to lessen the risk of future labour shortages. This report on Australia is part of a series of OECD country reports that investigates what countries are doing or should be doing to promote better employment opportunities for older people. It contains a survey of the main barriers to employment for older workers, an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of existing measures to overcome these barriers and a set of policy recommendations for further action by the government, employers, trade unions and older workers themselves. The chapters are: The challenge ahead; The labour market situation of older workers; Striking the right balance: income support and work incentives for older people; Encouraging employers to retain and hire older people; Helping older workers to carry on working; Ensuring policies are comprehensive and coherent. The report acknowledges that Australia has been active in addressing the barriers to employment faced by older workers. However, the OECD argues that there is still a lot that can be done to improve employment opportunities for older Australians. Recommendations for further reforms include: facilitating later retirement while removing incentives to early retirement; taking further steps to prevent disability benefits from being used as a pathway to early retirement; enhancing the effectiveness of age discrimination legislation; and strengthening the employability of older workers.