New research debunks traditional myths about age in the UK workforce

40% of older workers believe their younger colleagues teach them skills they previously did not have, according to a study of older and younger workers commissioned by Jobcentre Plus, whilst one third of younger workers believe older workers are more likely to work anti-social hours than colleagues their own age.

The findings, which come as the UK celebrates the first anniversary of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, lift the lid on the benefits of employing a diverse workforce for both employers and individuals. Across the board, the results show that working in a mixed aged workforce is important for both older (66%) and younger (65%) UK workers with all recognising the benefits of working with people of mixed ages.

Lesley Strathie, Chief Executive, Jobcentre Plus commented: "The research shows that having the right balance of age and skills can bring numerous benefits to establishing a complete workforce for both employers and employees. Both older and younger workers appreciate and learn from the qualities each brings to the workplace. It's not always easy to get the mix right, which is why Jobcentre Plus advisers work closely with employers and candidates to match the right opportunities with the right people."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the research shows that the first and foremost quality younger workers think their older colleagues bring is experience (94%) whilst reliability (66%) and understanding (63%) also featured highly. Comparatively, nearly two thirds of older workers are impressed by their younger co-workers ability to learn quickly, be flexible (61%) and give them energy (51%). Public sector and financial services workers show a higher level of confidence in their younger colleagues, although overall reliability appears to be an area younger workers need to improve - only a quarter of older workers believed their younger co-workers to be reliable.

Between October 2006 and February 2007 alone, Jobcentre Plus helped 89,438 people over the age of 50 into work and its team of advisers continue to offer support and advice to older workers across the UK in looking for employment. To celebrate this ongoing support, Jobcentre Plus has today launched the "Wise Council". A dedicated, online advice forum spear-headed by inventor Trevor Baylis and supported by TAEN - The Age and Employment Network, and BT for employers and individuals across the country, to enable older people to make the most of employment opportunities available.

The research also reveals some interesting gender and regional variations in workplace perceptions. Whilst younger and older colleagues enjoy working together, women were more likely to give positive feedback about the qualities their co-workers bring to the workplace than men. Overall, despite differences in age, differences in attitudes and the contribution of different skills to the workplace, the vast majority (95%) of older workers enjoy working with their younger colleagues. Interestingly in the North East, and contrary to national trends, over 10% of younger workers think their older colleagues are full of ideas, whilst older workers think younger co-workers are more likely to provide a good perspective.

On a national level both age groups agreed that whilst they enjoy working together there are key differences between them:

• In all sectors, younger workers stated that their older colleagues were more likely to be left in charge (60%)
• Over half of older workers believe their younger colleagues to be more likely to take risks, with 16% commenting that they are also more likely to be given manual tasks
• A higher percentage of younger workers (30%) thought older workers were more willing to work anti social hours than older workers (23%) did about their younger colleagues

Whilst these differences exist, one factor which was consistent across both age groups was the main reason they come to work - money, although this was more prevalent amongst younger rather than older people (73% compared to 52%). And contrary to popular belief, only 5% of younger workers stated that they come to work to meet new people, whilst 22% of older workers confirmed that they work for personal satisfaction.

Legendary inventor, Trevor Baylis, OBE said: "Just because you're over 50 years old doesn't mean that you have to down tools. I've had some of the best experiences in my later years and think that young and old can learn a lot from each other."

Chris Ball, Chief Executive, TAEN said: "Tapping into a wider pool of talent, experience and skills can help employers increase productivity, maintain a competitive advantage and improve the bottom line. We are committed to helping older people maintain a satisfactory quality of life and reports such as this demonstrate the role older people can and continue to play in daily working life."

Aaron McCormack, BT Age Champion and CEO BT Conferencing "At BT we strongly believe that age should not be a factor when assessing an employee's merit, individuals should be assessed on their skills and attributes. Teams of varying ages put us in the best possible position to truly understand our customers' needs, while also benefiting from the diverse pool of views, opinions and experiences."