Mature Age Workers: The Facts

Percentage of Australia's population over 65 - 12.5%
Percentage of the population over 55 - 21%
Percentage of the population over 45 - 35.6%
39% of the nation's household wealth is owned by people over 55.
Between 1982 and 1992, 31% of labour market growth came from workers aged 45 and over.
The projected labour market growth from workers aged 45 and over in the period 2002-2012 is 85%
69% of labour market growth in the period 1982-1992 was due to workers aged under 45.
The projected labour market growth attributable to workers aged under 45 in the period 2002-2012 is 15%
Currently the Australian workforce increases by 170,000 per annum but Access Economics predict that the workforce will increase by only 125,000 for the whole decade 2010 - 2020.
If current trends prevail, labour supply will be in deficit by the end of the decade. By 2020 there will be a significant undersupply.
In 1997, 12% of the population was over 65.
By 2051, the Australian Bureau of Statistics projects that 25% of Australians will be over 65.
'Currently the Australian workforce increases by 170,000 per annum but Access Economics projections predict that the workforce will increase by only 125,000 for the whole decade 2010 - 2020.'