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Grey Matters Research

Diversity Council Australia’s research project titled “Grey Matters: Engaging Mature Age Workers” released on 25 May 2007 reveals baby boomers are challenging traditional notions of retirement.

The research results are great news for employers and for Australia: At a time of strong economic growth and labour shortages, there is an exciting pool of talent, ready, willing and able to work. This research combined with DCA’s expertise in workplace diversity gives employers valuable information about how to better attract and retain talent in a tight labour market.

KEY RESULTS

Flexible working:

  • Prior to retiring, the average hours mature-age people worked was 40 hours, while they would have preferred to work 35.
  • Many mature-age people not currently working are care-givers (in total, 40% indicated they were care-giver of a child and/or grandchild or family member with a disability or health issue or who was elderly).
  • Having a job with flexibility, including hours of work, was important or very important for 97% of those not currently employed.
  • Employed mature-age workers indicated their top two ideal employment practices approaching retirement would involve: flexibility in start and finish times, and phased retirement.
  • Mature-age people not currently working indicated their top employment practices would involve: telework/work from home, a job with limited travel and flexibility in start and finish times.

Lifelong learning:

  • Around 80% of mature-age people not currently employed said working for an organisation that was supportive of their learning and development needs and careers was important or very important in influencing their decision to remain in the workplace.

Inclusive culture:

  • Some 97% of mature-age people indicated working for an organisation that was supportive of older workers was important or very important in influencing their decision to remain in the workplace.

About the research

  • Funded by DCA members ANZ, IBM and the Australian Federal Police.
  • The survey was designed by Dr Graeme Russell from Macquarie University in partnership with DCA. Some questions were also included from previous surveys conducted by the ABS and by The Center on Aging and Work at Boston College. A pilot test of the survey was conducted in both IBM and ANZ.
  • Nationally representative sample of 1,000 Australians 45 years of age or over.
  • Telephone survey conducted by AMR Inter-active.

For more information about the research results click here. To order a copy of the research and a toolkit, click here.