Report of the Director of Inclusive Economy and Consultant in Public Health (Ageing Well Lead) attached

This report provides data on the employment and skills status of workers (aged 50 to 64) in Manchester, how they have been impacted by Covid and the actions being taken to connect them to opportunities in the City as part of the Economic Recovery Strategy. The report also includes work with City Art Gallery and an exhibition which highlights the experience of older women.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Inclusive Economy and Consultant in Public Health (Ageing Well Lead) that provided data on the employment and skills status of workers (aged 50 to 64) in Manchester, how they had been impacted by Covid and the actions being taken to connect them to opportunities in the City as part of the Economic Recovery Strategy.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·           Providing and introduction and context, noting that older workers who are out of work are twice as likely to be long-term unemployed as younger workers who are out of work;

·           Describing the situation for Older Workers in Manchester;

·           Data on Employment and Skills for those residents aged over 50 years old;

·           Data on the levels of Universal Credit claimants for those residents aged over 50 years old;

·           Describing the Impact of COVID-19 on employment;

·           Challenges and issues, including the digital divide and the digital inclusion work underway to address this;

·           Information on Age Friendly Manchester (AFM) and Manchester’s Ageing Strategy - Manchester: A Great Place to Grow Older 2017 – 2021;

·           Programmes and work being delivered across Manchester Age Friendly Employment; and

·           Conclusions.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·                The need to give due consideration when describing digital skills when discussing the over 50’s as the range of knowledge and experience could differ greatly;

·                Noting that it was socio economic barriers that presented the largest challenge to many older residents;

·                The need to recognise that over 50’s had a wealth of other experiences that they could bring to the work place;

·                Noting the need for employers to recognise and accommodate the different life pressures experienced by older workers;

·                People should be supported and encouraged to prepare a CV rather than having to reply solely on submitting job applications on-line;

·                Welcoming the reported co-creation activities, adding that this approach of utilising and learning from lived experience should be applied to all services and programmes and would there be any evaluation of this undertaken;

·                Had consideration been given as to the impact of Long Covid

The Director of Inclusive Economy acknowledged the comment made regarding the need to recognise the different needs and challenges for people over the age of 50, and the different existing skills sets within this cohort. She commented that in Manchester the digital inclusion work had targeted over 65s.

In response to the comment made regarding CV’s the Director of Inclusive Economy commented that Manchester City Council had changed its policy and would now accept a CV and covering letter, however acknowledged the wider point on this issue. She further stated that a report on the outcomes of the co-creation activities would be submitted to the Committee at an appropriate time for consideration. In response to the issue regarding Long Covid and its impact on the over 50s she advised that no specific data was currently available however this would continue to be monitored.

The Programme Lead – Age Friendly Manchester welcomed the comment made regarding changing caring responsibilities and stressed the importance of employers recognising these. He stated that Manchester Council had responded by introducing a flexible working policy and there was a need to engage with the private sector to demonstrate the benefits to both employers and employees by introducing such schemes.

Decision

The Committee recommend that an evaluation report on the co-creation activities relating to the Over 50’s and Employment Project be submitted for consideration at an appropriate time.