Labour market statistics published today show that while the number of people over 50 in work rose by 53,000 in the first quarter of 2010, the proportion of people unemployed and claiming benefits for more than 12 months is highest for this age group than any other.

Chris Ball, Chief Executive of TAEN - The Age and Employment Network, commented:  “The latest employment figures should give the new Government pause for thought. Given the manifesto commitments of both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties to introduce measures that will encourage and require people to work longer, news that the proportion of people who have been unemployed or claiming benefits for over 12 months is highest amongst the 50+ age group will be a cause for concern.

“Plans to reduce public spending and employment in the public sector will hit older workers particularly hard. The Prime Minister and his new team need to think urgently about what additional support they can put in place so that the many thousands of older workers who are likely to be joining the unemployment register soon do not drift into premature and unwanted retirement.

“We lost a generation of older workers in both the recessions of the 1980s and 1990s, we simply can’t allow that to happen this time around.”