This report provides a comprehensive overview of the nature of demographic changes, the characteristics of the older workforce and the manner in which employers are already responding to the changes and how they might need to respond in the future.

The Government's draft Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment, launched in November 1998, has been focusing attention on age-related issues. This research, funded by the IES Research Club, was based on analysis of the literature and secondary data on the demographic and labour market characteristics of the older workforce, as well as interviews with five leading employers from a range of sectors and a one-day workshop with IES corporate members. The aim of the interviews and the workshop was to draw out the implications of the secondary data analysis for HR policy and practice. Some participating employers had implemented measures targeted at attracting or managing older workers. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the nature of demographic changes, the characteristics of the older workforce and the manner in which employers are already responding to the changes and how they might need to respond in the future.

Characteristics of older workers
older workers' attitudes
preferences and needs in the workplace
employment of older workers and employers' perceptions of older workers
human resource policies and practices relating to older workers.