Older workers (aged 50 and over) make up approximately one third of the workforce, yet face numerous disadvantages during the recruitment process. There are currently over 219,000 more workers aged 50-64 who are economically inactive (no longer working) than before the pandemic. At the same time, employers face skills and labour shortages leading to a higher number of vacancies than before the pandemic, yet older workers face bias and are regularly overlooked. 

The Behavioural Insights Team worked with the Centre for Ageing Better to develop solutions for age bias in recruitment as part of the Good Recruitment for Older Workers (GROW) programme. This report summarises the research.