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<p>The number of older people in employment is at near-record high. There are now
10.6 million workers aged 50 and over, compared to 9.1 million five years ago. Employment
level for women aged 50 and over is currently 5 million.</p><p> </p><p>To support
women to remain and return to the labour market, the Government has removed the Default
Retirement Age, meaning that most people can choose when to retire and extended the
right to flexible working beyond carers, to all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous
service with their employer.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2017, the Government published
our Fuller Working Lives strategy which set out the role employers, individuals and
government can play in supporting older workers. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/587654/fuller-working-lives-a-partnership-approach.pdf</a></p><p>Additionally,
we appointed a Business Champion for Older Workers to engage and influence employers
on a practical and strategic level, promoting the benefits of an older workforce.</p><p>
</p><p>Through the National Retraining Partnership, a partnership between Government,
the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress, Government is
developing the National Retraining Scheme. The National Retraining Scheme will help
prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by
automation, to help them retrain into better jobs.</p><p> </p><p>In February last
year, DWP launched our online mid-life MOT page which encourages more active planning
in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. <a href="https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/mid-life-mot/"
target="_blank">https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/mid-life-mot/</a></p><p> </p><p>To
support employers, Business in The Community have created MOT toolkits to support
businesses. <a href="https://age.bitc.org.uk/tools-impact-stories/toolkits" target="_blank">https://age.bitc.org.uk/tools-impact-stories/toolkits</a></p><p>
</p><p>For people who simply can’t work, our welfare system will continue to provide
a strong safety net, as it does for people of all ages now. We will spend £55 billion
[£55.4bn] this year (2019/20) on benefits to support disabled people and people with
health conditions. This is around 2.5% of GDP, and over 6% of government spending.
As a share of GDP, the UK’s public spending is second highest in the G7, bar Germany
[OECD 2015 data].</p>
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