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Ageing Population and Ir

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Ageing Population and Ir
The aim of this paper is to discuss the ageing population in the workforce and the shift toward non-standard employment arrangements. This essay will first explore how work has changed, the issues and the implications for an ageing population in the workforce and will be followed by an explanation on how employment arrangements and the workplace has changed, the issues of this transformation and also implications. This paper will conclude by giving recommendations on the issues raised by the ageing population of the workforce in Australia, these will focus on how can employers better handle the influx of older employees and also what the Government can do to help both employees and employers adjust to the ageing workforce and its demands. Non standard employment arrangements will conclude by giving recommendations on courses of actions that employers could do to better address this controversial issue.
Ageing population
Ageing population rates are increasing and fertility rates are decreasing in Australia (Productivity Commission 2005, p.15). Mature workers have been at the centre of policies designed to promote higher workplace participation, longer working life and enhanced savings for retirement. (Toten 2003, p.30). Since the mid 1990s in Australia, the elimination of mandatory retirement in all states has paved the way for increasing the opportunities and representation of older workers in the workforce.
It is estimated that by 2047, the number of Australians aged 65 and over will nearly double to 25%. This increase will be reflected in our dynamic workforce and will likely result in more people working for longer than they are today. Recently, the Australian Government announced an increase in the eligibility age for the age pension. This change is likely to result in workers postponing retirement – since we are living longer than before we will have to work longer than once originally thought (Aus Government 2009, p. 9). Currently there are many



References: list: Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing (on-line) 2009, Experience works. The Mature Age Employment Challenge, http://www.productiveageing.com.au/userfiles/file/ExperienceWorks_FINAL_WEB.pdf(F) (Accessed 16 Mar. 2010) Brooke, L. 2003,’ Human resource costs and benefits of maintaining a mature-age workforce’, International Journal of Manpower, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 260-283. Retrieved from ABI/Inform Global (database) (Accessed 16Mar. 2010). Burgess, J. 1997, ‘Part-time employment in Australia: unusual features and social policy issues’ International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 24, no. 7/8/9, pp. 831-846. Retrieved from Emerald Insight (database) (accessed 22Mar. 2010). Louie, A.M., Ostry, A., Quinlan, M., Keegel,T. et al. 2006,’ Empirical Study of Employment Arrangements and Precariousness in Australia’, Industrial Relations Journal, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 465-534. Retrieved from Proquest (database) (Accessed 16Mar. 2010). Productivity Commission 2005, Economic Implications of an Ageing Australia, Research Report, Canberra, http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/69401/ageing.pdf (accessed 12 Mar. 2010). Toten, M. 2003, ‘Workplace relations’, Australian CPA; vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 30-31. Retrieved from ABI/Inform Global (database) (accesed 15Mar. 2010).(A) Witte,H.D., Naswall, K. 2003,’ Objective vs Subjective Job Insecurity: Consequences of Temporary work for Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment in Four European Countries’, Economic and Industrial Democracy, Vol 24, no. 149, pp. 150-188 Retrieved for Proquest (database) (accessed 22Mar. 2010).

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