Employers can’t afford to ignore older workers amid skills shortage

Employers are being warned they can no longer afford to ignore the untapped talent pool, and workplace experts say they need to provide flexible conditions that suit workers well into their 70s.

The plea comes as figures show tens of thousands of over-55s who would like to be working are unemployed.

• More than 170,000 older Australians are keen to get back into the workforce

• That number is set to grow amid an ageing population

• Employers have been told to embrace workers in their 70s and 80s