Over-50s UK workers outnumber populations of Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland

Published: 23 Jan 2019

Image of a middle aged woman at work

Today’s official employment figures1 report a record number of people aged 50 and over in the UK labour market – 10.6 million.

This population now represents nearly one in three (31%) of all workers,  up from one in five (21%) when these records began in 1992.

The state pension age is rising for both men and women, so we can expect this population to keep growing. The responsibility is on employers to ensure they are supporting workers in their adaptation to a longer working life.

Commenting, Alistair McQueen, Head of Savings and Retirement at Aviva said:

We’ve never seen a population of this age and size in work. They are record breakers. 10.6 million people is more than the populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.2 And as the state pension age for men and women is now rising, we can expect this population to keep growing.

However, more must be done by employers to support these record breakers in a fuller working life. We continue to see a collapse in employment participation as we progress through our 50s, from nearly nine in ten active in the labour market at age 50 to less than one in two as we approach our mid-60s.3 This represents a huge waste of talent, experience and potential.

Aviva is investing in “mid-life MOTs” for its workers aged 45 and over.4 These MOTs have been designed to help people manage their work, wealth and wellbeing at this critical midway point in their lives. And we are investing in apprenticeships for all ages, including those in their 60s.

Aviva is committed to ensuring that age is no barrier to opportunity in work.

-ENDS- 

Download a photo of Alistair McQueen

1www.ons.gov.uk/employment-and-labour-market/people-in-work/employment-and-employee-types/bulletins/uk-labour-market/january-2019
2www.ons.gov.uk/people-population-and-community/population-and-migration/population-estimates/bulletins/annual-mid-year-population-estimates/mid-2017
3www.gov.uk/government/statistics/economic-labour-market-status-of-individuals-aged-50-and-over-trends-over-time-october-2018
4www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2018/10/aviva-launches-mid-life-mot-for-its-over-45s/

Media enquiries

Fiona Whytock
07800 692 299
fiona.whytock@aviva.com

Notes to editors:

  • We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
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