Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN – The Age and Employment Network, Britain’s centre of expertise on age and employment issues, will today - Thursday 4 February - outline to businesses in Leeds how they can address the challenges posed by an ageing workforce and demand for jobs from people approaching, and beyond state pension age.

With one in four children born today expected to live past 100 and the number of people in retirement per people in work set to double in the next 50 years, TAEN is calling on businesses in the region to recognise the value of their older workers and face up to the fact that people will need and want to continue to work well beyond the current retirement age.

Speaking at a Business in the Community Leadership Network dinner at the Leeds office of international law firm Eversheds, Ball will argue that businesses need to introduce measures, such as flexible working, improved health and fitness, and adapting workspaces to ensure that older people are able to continue to contribute to the economy and are not forced out of their jobs at 65 to face decades relying on their pensions and the state.

In the Yorkshire and Humberside region there are 780,000 people between 50 and 65 currently in employment but nearly 32 per cent of this age group are out of work. Of the 960,000 people in the region over the current state pension age, only 10 per cent are in employment.

Chris Ball says: “Today is an opportunity for businesses in Leeds, and across the Yorkshire and Humberside region, to reflect on how they can ensure that they do not waste the talent, energy and enthusiasm of their older workers.

“TAEN is well aware that there is increasing demand from older workers to remain in their jobs, either to save for a longer retirement or even because they simply enjoy their work.

“It is up to businesses, large and small, to make sure that they do not force workers out once they hit 65 but face up to the fact that people will want and, especially in the current climate, need to work longer.”