09 Oct Publication of over 50s research

We have published research into the experiences of those over 50 accessing skills and employment support services in West London. The research was undertaken by IES in early 2023 and involved interviews with residents and professionals working within the system, as well as labour market analysis. We commissioned this work as post-pandemic, we’ve seen the number of older residents dropping out the labour market continue to rise. Indeed, 15% of West London residents between the ages of 50 – 64 claim Universal Credit compared with only 10% nationally. Within West London, rates of Universal Credit receipt among older people have grown in all boroughs, typically trebling since the eve of the pandemic.

The findings from this research will be used to support system improvements that meet the needs of residents aged over 50 and the recommendations can be grouped into 5 main areas:

1. More, better tailored 1:1 support to meet the individual needs of residents
2. Building front-line advisor skills and capabilities to support this cohort

• Meeting additional support needs, for example, health requirements, specific digital upskilling

1. Employer engagement to ensure employers have age-friendly recruitment and retention in place
2. Coordination across services to identify any gaps in service, reduce any duplication and ensure smooth referral journeys through the system.

Read the full report or the executive summary

For any questions or to get involved in this workstream, please contact us