Published Friday, 18 July, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Mickel urges older workers to consider futures
Queensland Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel has urged older workers to discuss options with their employers before entering full retirement.
Mr Mickel said older workers had many alternatives available to them if they wanted to remain in the workforce.
Older workers considering retirement can find out about their options in a new booklet released under the State Government’s Experience Pays Awareness Strategy.
Mr Mickel said the Experience Pays pocket-sized handbook: “What are your options as an older worker?” was for mature-age employees starting to think about retirement or looking for flexible approaches to their careers.
“The employee handbook highlights issues all employees should think about before entering full retirement,” Mr Mickel said.
“It gives people options to consider like flexible work arrangements, mentoring, job redesign and retraining and includes inspiring testimonials from older workers who have chosen to remain in the workforce.
“Older workers represent the fastest growing segment of our workforce and by 2012, 85 per cent of labour market growth will come from people aged 45 years and over while the growth of new entrants into the workforce will decrease,” Mr Mickel said.
“The economic and social changes brought about by the ageing workforce have changed traditional views on retirement and older workers who are ready, willing and able to remain in or return to the workforce should be given the options to do so.
“Employers who talk with their mature-age employees about strategies to keep them in the workforce, like flexible work arrangements or redesigning jobs to better suit any changing physical capabilities, benefit from retaining staff at a time of skills and labour supply shortages with the bonus of holding on to valuable skills, knowledge and experience.”
Dirk Wagensveld, who features in the handbook, has worked for waste management, recycling and environmental services company J.J.Richards for over 30 years and at 65 years Dirk has a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge.
Dirk works a compressed four-day week at the engineering plant in Underwood and for one of those days he mentors trainees from Woodridge State High School.
Dirk is passing on his valuable skills and experience to students who will move into jobs with the company once they have finished their schooling.
“I’m not ready to stop and I get satisfaction seeing a kid get a leg up,” Dirk said.
“If I can make someone’s job easier I’m happy to show others.”
Dirk said he would rather be at work than retired at home.
“It’s better than taking up a hobby, which usually costs money - I like working with my hands, I find it very satisfying and I can come to work and get paid for it.”
Dirk’s employer has redesigned his job to reduce the heavy work and given him the option to cut back to three days a week further down the track if he wants.
“I’m still here for a bit more,” Dirk said.
“There are a lot of nice people here and I still have a few things to offer.”
The State Government’s Experience Pays Awareness Strategy aims to raise awareness of the ageing workforce, the value of older workers to employers and the community and to encourage mature-age people to remain in or re-enter the workforce.
It is working with business and unions to ensure industry and individuals alike have maximum involvement in managing the ageing workforce.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is 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 Awareness Strategy or to get a free copy of the employee handbook: “What are your options as an older worker?” visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647
Media Contact: Department of Employment and Industrial Relations Communications Coordinator Jacquie McGraw on 3006 4163 or Jacquie.McGraw@deir.qld.gov.au
July 18, 2008
Mr Mickel said older workers had many alternatives available to them if they wanted to remain in the workforce.
Older workers considering retirement can find out about their options in a new booklet released under the State Government’s Experience Pays Awareness Strategy.
Mr Mickel said the Experience Pays pocket-sized handbook: “What are your options as an older worker?” was for mature-age employees starting to think about retirement or looking for flexible approaches to their careers.
“The employee handbook highlights issues all employees should think about before entering full retirement,” Mr Mickel said.
“It gives people options to consider like flexible work arrangements, mentoring, job redesign and retraining and includes inspiring testimonials from older workers who have chosen to remain in the workforce.
“Older workers represent the fastest growing segment of our workforce and by 2012, 85 per cent of labour market growth will come from people aged 45 years and over while the growth of new entrants into the workforce will decrease,” Mr Mickel said.
“The economic and social changes brought about by the ageing workforce have changed traditional views on retirement and older workers who are ready, willing and able to remain in or return to the workforce should be given the options to do so.
“Employers who talk with their mature-age employees about strategies to keep them in the workforce, like flexible work arrangements or redesigning jobs to better suit any changing physical capabilities, benefit from retaining staff at a time of skills and labour supply shortages with the bonus of holding on to valuable skills, knowledge and experience.”
Dirk Wagensveld, who features in the handbook, has worked for waste management, recycling and environmental services company J.J.Richards for over 30 years and at 65 years Dirk has a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge.
Dirk works a compressed four-day week at the engineering plant in Underwood and for one of those days he mentors trainees from Woodridge State High School.
Dirk is passing on his valuable skills and experience to students who will move into jobs with the company once they have finished their schooling.
“I’m not ready to stop and I get satisfaction seeing a kid get a leg up,” Dirk said.
“If I can make someone’s job easier I’m happy to show others.”
Dirk said he would rather be at work than retired at home.
“It’s better than taking up a hobby, which usually costs money - I like working with my hands, I find it very satisfying and I can come to work and get paid for it.”
Dirk’s employer has redesigned his job to reduce the heavy work and given him the option to cut back to three days a week further down the track if he wants.
“I’m still here for a bit more,” Dirk said.
“There are a lot of nice people here and I still have a few things to offer.”
The State Government’s Experience Pays Awareness Strategy aims to raise awareness of the ageing workforce, the value of older workers to employers and the community and to encourage mature-age people to remain in or re-enter the workforce.
It is working with business and unions to ensure industry and individuals alike have maximum involvement in managing the ageing workforce.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy is 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 Awareness Strategy or to get a free copy of the employee handbook: “What are your options as an older worker?” visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647
Media Contact: Department of Employment and Industrial Relations Communications Coordinator Jacquie McGraw on 3006 4163 or Jacquie.McGraw@deir.qld.gov.au
July 18, 2008