Avoid immigration: get over 50s back to work

Britain has a colossal economic resource in its older population who are wasted without jobs

A serious boost to economic growth is up for grabs. Encouraging more over-50s to stay in work could provide a huge fillip to the economy. And if they don’t, immigration on a massive scale would be required to replace these retiring older workers. The economic and social fabric of the country would suffer as a growing number of pensioners tried to live on dwindling retirement incomes.

Each year about 700,000 people turn 50, which dwarfs the current immigration numbers of less than 200,000 a year. If most of the older workers stop work altogether, national income will suffer, labour shortages will develop, and those who leave will have less money to spend in future years. This is a recipe for long-term economic decline.

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