The Australian workforce is ageing. Currently, 1 in 4 Australians are aged over 55. This will increase to 1 in 3 Australians by next decade. So what does this mean for business when it comes to the best candidates? Here are some of the benefits for choosing older employees.

Experience

If there’s one thing you can’t fake, it’s experience, and older employees have it in spades. Experienced, more mature workers have the advantages of being able to methodologically work through challenges independently and may be able to offer multiple solutions, as they refer to their work history. Harness this experience to help bridge the gap and provide support to younger workers. Often, it’s intangible things like experience that can turn a solid candidate from a worker to an invaluable asset.

Wider Skill Sets

Over the course of an employee’s working life, they will develop different skill sets that make them a better asset. Whilst younger candidates may have more up-to-date qualifications, their skill sets have not been shaped by the workforce. Older candidates, however, have been repeatedly put through the rigor of the workforce, and have had their skills become ‘work-ready’. Older workers tend to have experienced different industries, which means that they have incorporated skills from diverse backgrounds, rather than just having a narrow focus or specialty. When you’re looking to employ a candidate, the more skills they have, the more valuable they can be to a business.