Who are all these ‘economically inactive’ 50 year olds

[Orangetapemeasure]

The government is trying to encourage 300000 or so ‘economically inactive’ 50+ year olds back to work. Who are these people and what do they do?
I can imagine some people in their 60s deciding to retire early, but I don’t know a single 50 year old who has or could afford to give up work. In fact I know several previously SAHM who are only launching their careers in their mid 40s. I’m mid 40s with a good 15-20 years left to work.
MN please enlighten me.

My aunt was able to give up work entirely at 47. Husband earnt enough to keep them afloat, very, very lucky. I hate work but will be working right up until I can no longer do it.

This lot are quite keen on assuming that if we have a shortage of workers in a sector and they can also identify a group of economically inactive or underemployed people, put the two together and problem solved. Like retired people, homemakers etc are a resource that can be moved around and utilised as convenient. Just before the pandemic hit Priti Patel was telling us all that businesses could just train up everyone who wasn't working.

This lot are quite keen on assuming that if we have a shortage of workers in a sector and they can also identify a group of economically inactive or underemployed people, put the two together and problem solved.

Yep! I’m sure that retired financially comfortable folk would love to go back to working long days picking fruit or working in care homes on minimum wage!

The govt shouldn’t have allowed a situation where that generation has been able to monopolise wealth and
retire early, and life is 10x harder for the next generation. Crap policy after crap policy. Why would people make a personal choice to give a nice life up for shit wages and high income tax?

It's not just one government nor one generation. It's taken 50 years to get where we are. It's a product of the 1960's, 70's and 80's!, in fact probably since the end of WW2!. Not just one generation, it's at least 2, maybe 3 who've taken the opportunities and pulled up the drawbridge behind them!

It used to be the thing to knock the baby boomers now it’s the 50 somethings who have done all the right things and paid into private pensions and are now retired.

If they hadn't fucked up with Brexit, nobody would be interested in employing women over 50.

We haven't pulled drawbridges up, we've vacated the premises so younger people can have those lovely higher paid roles. You're fucking welcome.

I guess I could be classed as one soon. 57, worked full time since 18 except for last three years when I’ve done 24 hours.

Im sick of the corporate world, have brought up two DC single handed my whilst DH worked away for his entire career. Have a really good pension which I’m not drawing on yet and have been offered an early leavers pay off from
work who are reducing headcount. I’m off. DH is fully supporting me and we have shared finances. He intends to work until 62 because of the job he’s in, and is happy to
do so.

I have no intention of being in paid employment again. I help the adult DC in lots of ways, am a carer for elderly mum, I need some me time.

How have these people pulled up the drawbridge exactly?

Everyone I know my age (50’s) have worked constantly and paid tax, and have not received benefits to my knowledge. They’ve paid in a lot, and what we get back in services is pretty shit. They’ve bought houses and been part of the spend spend spend generation.

The UK govt can get stuffed if they think I care what they think of me retiring earlier. They owe me a state pension when the time comes and anything else I am entitled to I’ll be taking it.

I'm not in England but I'm 52 and if I hadn't got the job I have now I think I'd still be looking, the ageism made it so hard to get an interview. ridiculous. Companies say they are crying out for staff but when I was 47 I was ''too old''. Stooopid. I have to work for another 15 years or is it 16, then I'm going to walk the camino!!! so don't tell me I'm too old to sit at a desk. That's so stupid. But it is employers' and recruiters' blind spot.

@Thesharkradar exactly. The problem is not laziness or work shirking or a lack of energy, the problem is the blind spot that employers are operating under. If they made some efforts to go with the older candidate not the younger candidate that would play a role in making a slight shift out of the effects of ageism and it would solve their resourcing staff problems.

No one has "pulled up the drawbridge". Earlier generations have done what it was suggested they should do in terms of providing for their retirement. Just as Gen Y and Millenials are doing what they are told they need to now. Mark my words, when the current provisions turn out not to be enough and future unborn generations have to provide for your retirement at the detriment of their own, you'll be the ones accused of pulling up the drawbridge. Get off your moral high horse!

They're not interested in employing them now...

Exactly....this is all posturing bollocks by the government to blame us [again].

It doesn’t necessarily mean voluntarily not economically active. It will include many women in exactly that age group who are no longer able to work due to perimenopause symptoms or long covid.

I have a friend who hasn't worked for years. His wife is highly paid and it works for them as he deals with the house and kids.

I'm 52 and not working. I'd like to something but I have a DD with medical issues which would require me to have to be constantly requesting time off for appointments and treatment. I was at the point of thinking about getting a job after years of being a SAHM when she started secondary school but then she became ill.

If it wasn't for her illness this campaign by the government would definitely have encouraged me to try and find a job.

My DSis is 50 and not working. She has a 7 year old DD and is a SAHM. I can't see her going back to work ever. She is financially very secure and actually gave up work 3 years before her DD was born.

I know two men who "retired" in their late 40's and have no desire to go back to paid work while they live off of their investment income.

I gave up work in my 40s and am 49 now. Very happy and very busy. Several of my friends are the same as me.

I work with a mixture of ages. The people in their 50’s and 60’s work hard and smart. They have high standards and a good work ethic. They hate being late or off sick.

The younger ones in their early 30’s and 20’s do as little as possible and are constantly off sick, and say they have anxiety if ever pulled up on anything.

IIRC around 20 years ago there was a great to-do about high youth unemployment. The cry then was for those nearing retirement age to step down in order that a young person could be employed. There were even government schemes to tempt employers to take on more young people. My how times have changed.

Perhaps the Government should introduce a YTS for oldies... 😀

Me for one along with at least 2 of my friends.

I don't regret it for one minute.

I did an apprenticeship when I was 50.

What in? @MissyB1