Published Saturday, 17 February, 2007 at 09:30 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
EXPERIENCE IS BACK IN STYLE WITH A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN
A statewide Queensland Government campaign to highlight the benefits of employing mature-age workers and address labour shortages will be launched on the Gold Coast today.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, said at a time of a nation wide skills shortage the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is a three year campaign aimed at raising employer and community awareness of the ageing workforce, improve attitudes towards older workers and encourage employers to adopt age-friendly workplace practices.
“The ageing population and labour force shortages are a global phenomenon,” Mr Mickel said.
According to 2005 figures on the Gold Coast people 45 years and over make up 38.9% of the population, while 18.9% are 60 and over.
“Forecasters predict a labour supply shortfall of up to 40,000 Queensland workers within five years.
Research has shown that Australia’s early retirement rate is greater than Japan, the USA, Canada and the UK, and that the nation cannot afford to have large numbers of older people out of the workforce.
“Despite the increasing dependence of employers on older workers as a prime source of labour, negative perceptions about the value of older workers continue.
“This campaign aims to dispel the negative stereotypes and myths that exist in the community and highlight the benefits of recruiting, retraining and retaining mature-age workers.”
The statewide media campaign, which encompasses direct mail, television, radio and press advertising, commences tomorrow.
A dedicated Website and helpline also has been set up to provide employers and the community with information and advice.
Eight Industry Liaison Officers have been recruited as part of the three year $6 million Experience Pays Awareness Strategy to work with employer groups and unions to ensure proper and appropriate workplace planning.
“The theme of this campaign is Experience It’s Back,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s an exciting campaign that demonstrates how older workers are a valuable resource for employers, hopefully encouraging them to think about their own attitude and approach to employing mature age workers.
“Over the next decade 80% of all labour force growth will be generated from people over the age of 45.
“Employers who do recruit, retrain and retain older, experienced workers will be better able to cope with the dramatic changes in labour supply.”
The campaign was launched at the Clancy’s factory on the Gold Coast where management have already recognised the value of older workers they have ten employees aged from 57 to 72 years and the company’s employment policy is “age is no barrier”.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116, 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy and the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
For more information on the Experience Pays strategy, visit the website www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 630 647.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
February 17, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel, said at a time of a nation wide skills shortage the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is a three year campaign aimed at raising employer and community awareness of the ageing workforce, improve attitudes towards older workers and encourage employers to adopt age-friendly workplace practices.
“The ageing population and labour force shortages are a global phenomenon,” Mr Mickel said.
According to 2005 figures on the Gold Coast people 45 years and over make up 38.9% of the population, while 18.9% are 60 and over.
“Forecasters predict a labour supply shortfall of up to 40,000 Queensland workers within five years.
Research has shown that Australia’s early retirement rate is greater than Japan, the USA, Canada and the UK, and that the nation cannot afford to have large numbers of older people out of the workforce.
“Despite the increasing dependence of employers on older workers as a prime source of labour, negative perceptions about the value of older workers continue.
“This campaign aims to dispel the negative stereotypes and myths that exist in the community and highlight the benefits of recruiting, retraining and retaining mature-age workers.”
The statewide media campaign, which encompasses direct mail, television, radio and press advertising, commences tomorrow.
A dedicated Website and helpline also has been set up to provide employers and the community with information and advice.
Eight Industry Liaison Officers have been recruited as part of the three year $6 million Experience Pays Awareness Strategy to work with employer groups and unions to ensure proper and appropriate workplace planning.
“The theme of this campaign is Experience It’s Back,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s an exciting campaign that demonstrates how older workers are a valuable resource for employers, hopefully encouraging them to think about their own attitude and approach to employing mature age workers.
“Over the next decade 80% of all labour force growth will be generated from people over the age of 45.
“Employers who do recruit, retrain and retain older, experienced workers will be better able to cope with the dramatic changes in labour supply.”
The campaign was launched at the Clancy’s factory on the Gold Coast where management have already recognised the value of older workers they have ten employees aged from 57 to 72 years and the company’s employment policy is “age is no barrier”.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116, 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy and the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
For more information on the Experience Pays strategy, visit the website www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 630 647.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
February 17, 2007