IT&T slow in retaining mature aged workers

A survey by recruitment agency Hudson found employers in the IT&T sector are the least proactive in seeking to attract and retain mature aged workers.

Despite the nation’s rapidly ageing workforce and growing skills shortage, less than one in three Australian employers in the IT&T sector are proactively seeking to attract and retain mature age workers, the survey found.

Additionally, the IT&T sector was the least proactive out of all the sectors surveyed in its ability to engage mature aged workers.

Of 8,345 employers surveyed nationally, only 32.3 percent in the IT sector, and 23.8 percent in the telecoms sector, were proactively seeking to attract and retain mature employees, Hudson found.

The rate of employer pro-activity had increased by 11 percent over the last two years in the IT sector and by seven percent in the telecoms sector, the company said.

According to Hudson the following industries proactively sought to attract and retain mature aged workers.

Financial Services/Insurance: 46.9 percent

Professional Services: 45.1 percent

Government: 44.3 percent

Wholesale/Distribution: 43.5 percent

Construction/Engineering/Property: 40.2 percent

Advertising/Marketing/Media: 33.1 percent

Information Technology: 32.3 percent

Telecommunications: 23.8 percent

National Average: 40.7 percent