House of Representatives Committees

Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations

Inquiry into issues specific to older workers seeking employment, or establishing a business, following unemployment

Age Counts

You may access the separate parts of the report by clicking on the following documents, which are in pdf format. To view or print these pdf documents, you will require the Adobe Acrobat® PDF Reader, which can be downloaded free of charge from Adobe

Cover (JPG image)

Front Pages (PDF format)

      Foreword
      Membership of the Committee
      Terms of reference
      List of abbreviations
      Executive summary and list of recommendations

Chapter 1 - Setting the scene (PDF format)

      Origins of the inquiry
      Structure of the report
      Definitions
      The issues
      Demographic trends
      The mature-age labour market
      Conclusion

Chapter 2 - Consequences of unemployment (PDF format)

      Introduction
      Financial, budgetary and economic issues
      Consequences for individuals and families
      Consequences for the wider community
      Conclusion

Chapter 3 - Causes of mature-age unemployment (PDF format)

      Introduction
      Mismatch between supply and demand in the labour market
      Casual and part-time employment
      Rural and regional unemployment and mobility of labour
      Causes specific to mature-age workers
      Impact of government policies
      Conclusion

Chapter 4 - Dealing with unemployment (PDF format)

      Introduction
      Macroeconomic influences
      Age discrimination
      Dealing with retrenchments and redundancies
      Skills training
      Government policies
      Longitudinal studies
      Casual and part-time work
      Transport costs
      Alternative paths
      Phased retirement
      Service providers
      Accessing superannuation
      Conclusion

Chapter 5 - Establishing a small business - a high risk option (PDF format)

      Introduction
      The small business option
      Reducing the risk of business failure
      New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
      Other small busniess programs
      Awareness of government programs
      Conclusion

Appendix A - Conduct of the inquiry (PDF format)

Appendix B - List of submissions (PDF format)

Appendix C - List of exhibits (PDF format)

Appendix D - List of hearings & witnesses (PDF format)

Appendix E - References (PDF format)

Appendix F - Australian age discrimination laws (PDF format)

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