Older Workers

By 2012/13 New Zealand’s labour force is forecast to rise from 2.25 million to 2.38 million – close to a 6 percent increase.
Within this labour force, the number of workers aged 55 or older will have grown by 25% – an additional 100,000 individuals.
However, those aged 25-54 will have increased by only 2.5% or 28,000 individuals.
That means employers will have to shift their focus from young to old in order to maintain a viable workforce, says Mercer in a recently released report entitled Workplace 2012.

The percentage of workers aged 55+ will increase from 18 percent to 21 percent – more than half a million individuals.

The percentage of workers aged 25-54 will decrease from 65 percent to 62 percent.

The participation rate of workers aged 20-44 will decrease

The participation rate of workers aged 55-59 will increase – from 79.6 percent to 82.4percent

The participation rate of workers aged 60-64 will increase – from 67.1 percent to 75 percent.

What will this mean for the way the church looks at mission, workplace chaplaincy, care of older people in employment? Will youth groups take less focus in the church, and 'older' groups take more?