Activation and Active Ageing? Mature-Age Jobseekers' Experience of Employment Services. Issue 4 (20th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowman, Dina; McGann, Michael; Kimberley, Helen; Biggs, Simon
• Is Part Of: Social policy and society. Volume 15:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 647
• Page End: 658
• Publication Date: 2016-06-20
• Subjects: older workers, -- employment services, -- unemployment, -- income support; Social policy -- Periodicals; 361.6105
• DOI: 10.1017/S1474746416000245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-7464

Abstract

Abstract : The number of mature-age Australians registered with employment services is growing, with mature-age jobseekers spending longer unemployed and on income support than younger jobseekers. However, the role of employment services in extending working lives has so far received little attention in policy discourses on ageing and employment. This article examines the effectiveness of Australia's employment services system in supporting mature-age jobseekers, drawing upon interviews conducted as part of wider research on unemployment and underemployment in mature-age. We find that the overriding experience among mature-age jobseekers' is of a system that exudes 'carelessness'. We situate mature-age jobseekers' experiences of systemic carelessness within the context of wider welfare reforms that have contributed to the de-professionalisation and routinisation of employment services' delivery.