Are you too old to be hired but too young to retire? If you are in this in-between state, you are not alone. According to the recently released ABC’s Australia Talks Nation Survey results, almost half of Australians aged 50 to 64 have no confidence in their ability to find a new job if they lose their current job. In the survey comprising of a total of 54,970 respondents, 1 in 4 Australians are worried about losing their job in the next 12 months while 37% are worried about their job security in general.
Once unemployed, mature-aged job seekers can face greater challenges re-entering the workforce. Statistics reveal that the average period of unemployment for mature-aged job seekers is 75 weeks whereas, the average duration is 48 weeks for other age groups. Moreover, one third of mature-aged job seekers face long term unemployment (52 weeks or more) while only one in four people from other age groups experience the same.
Despite having decades of experience under their belt, many mature-aged job seekers find it difficult to bounce back after redundancy or have to settle for a job that is not reflective of their experience. It took Shirley Thompson from Mirrabooka, now 63 years old, five years to find another full-time job after being let go by her previous employer. She is now employed in a role that doesn’t match her 30 years of experience and is paid the same wage she was paid 10 years ago. Despite this unsuitability, she has taken on the role simply to get by.
In addition to suffering a financial setback, mature-aged job seekers experience loss of confidence, mental health issues and general feeling of unhappiness. Moreover, their lack of knowledge or confidence using different types of technology serve as a barrier to finding and gaining employment. To combat this issue, Skill Hire delivers the Federal Government’s Career Transition Assistance (CTA) program.
Career Transition Assistance (CTA)
Through the 8-week long CTA program, Skill Hire helps mature-aged job seekers with:
- Developing a career roadmap and unique personal brand
- Identifying the participant’s existing skills and how to transfer them to other jobs or industries
- Identifying local job opportunities and the skills required to be considered for those opportunities
- Updating and tailoring participant’s job application (resume and cover letter) for suitable roles
- Using technology to search and apply for jobs
- Finding work experience placements
To learn more about the Career Transition Assistance program, please click here or speak to one of our CTA specialists at 9376 2800.
Know Your Rights
Every state and territory in Australia has outlawed age discrimination yet it is commonly practiced throughout the country. If you are over the age of 50 and have clear evidence of age discrimination, we encourage you to speak to the Human Rights Commission’s nationwide information line on 1300 656 419.
