ClickAJob News

Many older employees are deciding to switch jobs, despite being with one company for some considerable time, new research suggests.

Recruitment specialists Joslin Rowe have stated that with increasing focus on ageism legislation in the workplace, older workers are now confident that they can be employed elsewhere, Online Recruitment reports.

Research by the firm has discovered that 18 per cent of job movers in the finance sector were people aged 35 or over. This figure was only 14 per cent in 2003.

Managing director of Joslin Rowe Tara Ricks said that in the past, employees of a certain age would have been very reluctant to change jobs.

"As a result of the age discrimination legislation, people over the age of 35 in the sector are more likely to move around - and the proportion of over-56s prepared to make a change has risen dramatically," she commented.

ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg welcomes the trend as huge plus for companies struggling to find skilled talent as shortages get tighter.

"Older employees bring two vital qualities to the table," he says, "attitude and experience".

"Of the two, attitude is the most valuable. These are people already committed to the work ethic. They know they have to bet on themselves, so easy for employers to bet on them too."

Mr Traberg is equally positive about experience.

"Older workers don't just have the qualifications, they have the practical hands-on understanding of how to get the best out of any resources they work with," he remarks.