Older workers in Australia: the myths, the realities and the battle over workforce 'flexibility'

摘要: A decisive 2004 fourth term win for the Howard Government and control over Senate provided Australian government with a mandate to further deregulate labour market in name of ‘flexibility’. This conceptual paper uses critical perspective challenge wisdom neo-liberal economics as driving force behind rapid expansion non-traditional ‘flexible’ forms work argues that this kind divestment strategy can produce negative long consequences including under utilisation skill shortages stemming from lack investment human capital. While an ageing workforce is set intensify into future, has adopted modest measures designed counter age based discrimination encourage participation. However, participation rates among mature workers Australia have remained one lowest OECD countries. Government’s deregulation policies are reducing availability jobs provide sufficient working conditions remuneration make attractive many those who not working. The erosion employment associated reform lead underemployment other outcomes often fail meet needs disadvantaged groups market. More recently, however, embarked on reforms appear genuine incentives aimed specifically at attracting by older workers, but only aged 60 years over.