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Mature age employment

Using flexible work practices to attract and retain mature workers

Mature age workers are vital to the Western Australian workforce and bring a wealth of skills, experience and wisdom.
Contrary to some popular myths, research shows that mature age workers have many positive attributes including:

  1. life and work experience
  2. a strong work ethic
  3. above average commitment to their workplaces
  4. lower absenteeism
  5. reliability and stability

Over the next decade, more people will leave the workforce than enter it.  Retention of mature age workers is a cost effective strategy for business.  The implications of not retaining mature age workers can be lost experience, knowledge, productivity and diversity in the workplace.

A key method of attracting and retaining mature workers is to provide flexible work options that may be desirable for family reasons, greater health and wellbeing or a different work and lifestyle balance.
Information on a range of flexible work arrangements that could suit mature age workers, such as part time work, phased retirement or working from home is available on the Flexible Work – Practical Initiatives page.