According to the report from Lorien, while Tech and STEM sectors face major skill shortages, the softer interpersonal skills possessed by older workers will breathe life into the talent shortages.

The push for upskilling older workers comes on the backdrop of 43% of STEM vacancies being “hard to fill”. On top of this, out of the 13,000 new digital jobs available last year in Scotland, only 5,000 were filled through apprenticeships and new graduates. Pointing the industry to confront the predominant talent retention issue. 

“Age discrimination is, unfortunately, still a problem and with so much focus being channelled into ensuring firms can recruit the Gen-Z skills they need, far too few are looking to the more senior end of the workforce,” said Darren Topping, Director of Solutions & Insight at Lorien.

According to Government statistics, between 2011 and 2020 women accepted into STEM undergraduate courses grew by 50.1%. However they only made up 29.4% of the workforce in the UK. The same report found that approximately 75,000 people in the UK were economically inactive due to caring responsibilities for either children or elderly relatives. 

In addition to those disadvantaged due to caring responsibilities, older workers above 50 were more likely to be made redundant and less likely to be re-employed, according to The Centre for Ageing Better.

In this same report, half of the respondents said they believed they were less likely to receive job offers. 

“We know from our networks that numerous professionals who left the industry over the last few years – for a variety of reasons – are now looking for a way back in, and with retirement ages creeping up it makes logical sense for more employers to take on workers in the over 50’s age range and to benefit from the vast array of skills and experience that they can bring,” said Topping.

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In response to the talent shortage and surplus of elderly and caretaking workers who are unemployed, the government launched a STEM ReCharge initiative to provide return to work career coaching, job skills training and sector-specific upskilling and mentoring to returners with tech or engineering experience.

“This ability to learn and adjust in the workplace should not be overlooked, as it’s a vital skill that many of the younger workforce will not possess to such a level. It also assures organisations that older workers could confidently re-skill and assist in helping with the talent shortage,” said Topping.