Businesses that hire a mature aged worker can receive a $1000 bonus from the Australian Government as part of a package of initiatives to increase mature age participation in the workforce.

 

Minister for Employment and Participation, Kate Ellis launched the new $1000 Experience+ Jobs Bonus as part of the Government’s $55.3 million investment to help mature age workers find and keep work, and to address negative attitudes towards mature age people.

 

“There are over 3.8 million mature-age Australians and many want to work, yet every week I hear stories from many mature age jobseekers about their frustration in searching for work.

 

“We have a wealth of experience and so many talented and dedicated people being overlooked.

“Mature aged workers can save their employers $2000 a year on average compared to their younger counterparts - they are more reliable, loyal, and provide a better return on investment.

 

“Despite this, we know that mature aged workers are out of work twice as long as their younger counterparts with the average duration of unemployment for people 55 and over standing at 70 weeks.

 

“We are determined to do anything we can to get more mature aged Australians into work and so I am pleased to introduce this new program of incentives designed to get businesses to put on mature aged staff,” Minister Ellis said.

 

“Mature age Australians represent a huge boost to our economy, they are loyal workers and they are hard workers but they are too often are faced with unnecessary barriers when looking for work.

 

“We have put in place a program of new incentives to break down those barriers and encourage businesses to see mature age workers as valuable additions to their workforce.

 

“2500 Jobs Bonuses of $1000 each are now available each financial year until 2016, and any business can apply no matter how big or small.

 

“We want to make it as easy as possible to encourage businesses to take on mature aged workers and they can apply for the $1000 Experience+ Jobs Bonus program online in just a few simple steps.

 

Ms Ellis said the Australian Government is doing more than ever before to harness the skills and experience of mature workers, and the new $1000 Experience+ Jobs Bonus is just one part of our plan to boost mature age worker participation.

 

"We also appointed the first Age Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan AO and have provided increased funding.

 

"We have also delivered more than 9900 free career advice sessions to mature age job seekers to help them market their skills to employers through the $11.7 million Experience+ Career Advice service since July 2010."

 

Employers can log onto www.deewr.gov.au/JobsBonus and apply for a Jobs Bonus.

 

Employers are eligible if they provide ongoing employment opportunities to job seekers aged 50 years and over and who are registered to look for work with a Job Services Australia provider.

 

More information about the Experience+ Jobs Bonus and other mature-age initiatives is available at www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus, or by calling the DEEWR Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260.