The Office for National Statistics (ONS) – older workers during the Pandemic report
The ONS have published their report on the demographic and economic characteristics of older workers aged 50 years.
The main points are that while the impact of the pandemic has been greatest for younger workers, older workers aged 50 years and over have been affected to a greater extent than those in the middle age groups.
In December 2020 to February 2021, those employees aged 50 years and over were more likely to report working fewer hours than usual (including none) in the past week because of the pandemic than those aged under 50 years, with those aged 65 years and over the most likely to say they had worked reduced hours.
Over a quarter of furloughed employments are people aged 50 years and over (1.3 million), with 3 in 10 of older workers on furlough thinking there is a 50% chance or higher that they will lose their job when the scheme ends. Older people who become unemployed are more likely to be at risk of long-term unemployment than younger people.
See: Living longer – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)