Forties People

The latest Office Angels survey suggests that temps over 45 have risen by a quarter over the past 12 months, with the majority saying that they do so for flexibility and work-life balance.

A huge 86% said that they felt that temping offered them the chance to learn new skills with 55% enjoying the variety of workplaces and experiences that temping could offer.

Reed’s Katy Nicholson told HR Gateway today that temping could suit older workers, as some employers can be ‘more concerned about age when hiring for permanent positions’. Temping is about skills rather than age, she said.

However, Patrick Grattan, head of the Third Age Employment Network (TAEN) says that the findings ‘surprised’ him. Although many older workers would like quality temping contracts, temping is perceived in the industry as being for young people:

‘If this increase is true, then it is good news for older workers as temping is exactly what they are looking for. However, I was only talking to another agency yesterday and it soon came apparent that the perceived image of temps is that of young workers.

‘We strongly encourage older people to take this route and so it is encouraging that they are. But, it needs to be a proper job – with possibly the potential to become a full-time position - rather than just a tactic to get cheap labour,’ he said.

Recent research by TAEN suggested that the 45-65 age group was 'fed up' with employers continually treating them as stereotypes. Many employers do not invest in training for this age group.

Quality of job was also of high importance for this age group. Many said that they did not want to get landed with the usual low-grade positions that are normally sidelined for older workers as the Government attempted to lower unemployment figures.

Many times older workers are forced to give up ‘personal ambitions’ such as career change and skill development in order to accept low level positions, the report states. Often it comes with the threat of losing benefit.