Embracing older workers is the way forward for businesses, according to the Government's business champion for older workers Dr Ros Altmann.

Dr Altman told an international audience in London that despite living longer lives, average retirement ages are still below what they were in the 1950s.

She proposed a reassessment of later life working and retirement and called for new attitudes to over 50s in the labour force.

Urging employers and policymakers to embrace the three 'r's' – retain, retrain and recruit, Dr Altmann said the approach would prevent industry from wasting resources.

She said to 'retain' employers should objectively assess older workers' skills and make sure they do not lose them too soon, including facilitating more flexible working later in life wherever possible.

To 'retrain' they should support ongoing lifelong learning and training in new skills for workers of all ages – in particular for those who have had heavy physical jobs so they can keep working in a different role.

To 'recruit' she said HR departments, recruitment agencies and employers should take over-50s job applicants seriously.

"We need a new mindset; one that accepts that chronological age does not determine ability to work," she said.

"Most people are still fit and well at much older ages than before and it is quite astonishing that improvements in health and demographic realities have not fed through to the labour market and retirement thinking."

"We need to stop wasting resources and embrace longer working lives."

Minister for Pensions Steve Webb MP supported Dr Altmann's comments, adding that Government initiatives are already tackling the issue.

"Having extended the right to request flexible working and outlawed forced retirement, we are now pushing ahead with implementing our Fuller Working Lives initiative – challenging outdated stereotypes head on," he said.

"The actions of this Government are helping turn the situation around but we must keep our foot on the accelerator."

First published 30.10.2014

Lindsay.sharman@wilmington.co.uk