'Urgent need' | New 'reskilling era' needed to boost lifelong learning for older workers, CIPD says

New analysis from the CIPD reveals an urgent need for greater investment in lifelong learning to help older workers stay in employment and build long-term financial security.

The CIPD warns that older workers are particularly exposed to the megatrends reshaping the labour market, from rapid advances in AI to the transition to a net zero economy. With fewer opportunities to develop, retrain or switch careers, many risk being left behind as roles evolve or disappear entirely.

The report highlights that around 6.3 million workers will see their jobs change due to the effects of net zero transition in the economy by 2050, while its estimated almost a third of jobs are exposed to AI and likely to change significantly, and two million jobs could be displaced by 2035 due to technological change.

Older workers are disproportionately affected and least likely to have access to training to enable them to adapt to these challenges, compared to other workers.