The ageing of the Australian population creates numerous challenges for the Australian economy and community. The large cohort of “baby boomers” are approaching the eligibility age of 65 years for the age pension, and so in coming years will begin retiring from employment. This will increase pressure on Government expenditure on age pensions and health care, while also reducing the tax revenue from employed workers.
Increasing the employment participation of mature age people (aged 50 years and over) is a clear means of overcoming the economic challenges of an ageing population. It will increase the ability of people to fund their own retirement and lessen reliance on Government pensions. Further a higher proportion of mature age people in employment will increase the Government’s revenue base, as well potentially lowering the costs associated with ill health. Increasing mature age employment participation has been stated as a key public policy priority by the Intergenerational Report 2010.
There remains further scope for Australia to engage economically inactive people aged over 50. A better understanding of the barriers preventing mature age people from seeking work is necessary to develop appropriate policy and programmatic responses. Research from both Australia and internationally has identified a number of such barriers to the employment of mature age people.
These barriers include:
•    Discrimination in employment on the basis of age
•    Care-giving responsibilities
•    Flexibility of employment arrangements
•    Issues around private recruitment firm practices
•    Job search assistance
•    Leisure time trade-off
•    Mental health barriers
•    Mismatch of skills and experience with industry demands
•    Physical illness, injury and disability
•    Re-entry issues barriers of the Very Long-Term Unemployed
•    Re-training and up-skilling barriers
•    Superannuation
•    Tax-transfer system
•    Workplace barriers
To measure the prevalence and role of these selected barriers in reducing the labour force participation of mature age Australians, the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre together with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations are conducting a survey of 3,000 Australians aged between 45 and 74.
Telephone interviews of approximately 20-25 minutes duration will be conducted by the survey company ORC International. Further information about the study can be obtained from Dr Jeromey Temple, Director of the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre, on (02) 6230 4588 or j.temple@nationalseniors.com.au

Information for respondents

Main aims of the study
The survey seeks to improve understanding of the barriers to labour force participation faced by many mature age Australians.

Who is conducting the research?
The research team comprises two Chief Investigators: Dr. Jeromey Temple and Dr. Tim Adair from the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre. They are supported by two further researchers from the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre, Lea Ortega and Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi.

Who is funding the study?
This research project is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (www.deewr.gov.au)

Who has been invited to participate in the survey?
The Survey of Barriers to Employment for Mature Age Australians collects information about the labour force participation behavior and attitudes towards employment from randomly selected individuals from the Sample Pages telephone frame, comprising 6 million landline telephone numbers. This sample is endorsed by the Association of Market and Social Research Organisations (AMSRO) and used by ORC International for the purposes of this study.

Why participate?
It is vital that our survey represents a broad range of mature age Australians. The study hopes to provide information to remove the barriers to the continued economic participation of older Australians.

How did we get your telephone number?
Your contact information has been provided to ORC International for the purposes of this research from the AMSRO endorsed sample pages telephone frame.

How do we ensure your privacy is protected?
Any information you provide will be confidential as far as allowed by law, and your answers will not be identified as individual responses. Responses are used for research purposes only and are treated in strict confidence. Neither the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations nor Centrelink will know whether you participated or will have access to your details.

How long will the survey take to complete?
The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete, depending on your answers.

Is the survey compulsory?
The survey is entirely voluntary but your participation is important.

More information
If you would like more information about the study, please contact the Project Manager, Dr Jeromey Temple on (02) 6230 4588 (business hours) or j.temple@nationalseniors.com.au