Opportunities or barriers? the experiences of disadvantaged older jobseekers participating in training

Abstract

In Australia and other OECD countries, increasing the labour force participation rate of older adults (45-64 years) is seen as a primary strategy to address the current demographic challenges brought about by an ageing population and the retirement of skilled workers. Not all older adults have current workplace skills, yet barriers which include institutional, societal and personal factors, may constrain their participation in training and educational activities to increase their employability. The qualitative, phenomenological study reported here explored, through a series of semi-structured interviews, the experiences of a small group of disadvantaged older jobseekers, as they participated in training and job-seeking activities. Major findings included the disparity between the participants' preferred ways of learning and the delivery modes in their training programs, and that their training activities did not necessarily translate into employment. The findings bring into question the value of training and the effectiveness of current provisions.