Young and older workers face same problems of unemployment: ILO
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Doctors and nurses at a hospital in France – ILO/Crozet M.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) says it is time to promote employment for older people in the same way youth employment is being promoted.
The ILO says that's because young and older workers face the same problems of unemployment.
Beng Poblete Enriquez reports.
The ILO says many of the countries that are suffering from huge youth unemployment levels are also experiencing population ageing.
Lowering the retirement age so that young people can replace older workers may seem like an easy solution, says the ILO.
But, it adds, early retirement policies have not always generated jobs for younger age groups.
The agency also points out that older workers are increasingly in need of jobs – by the end of this century, the number of people aged 60 and over will reach 2.8 billion.
The ILO says what is needed is a call for action for older workers similar to the one for young people.
It suggests education and training activities for older workers and awareness-raising campaigns to challenge stereotypes about ageing.
Beng Poblete-Enriquez, United Nations.
Duration: 56″
