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New research released by the Office for National Statistics shows that working from home may help enable older workers to remain in the labour market for longer. Flexible working and homeworking are key factors which could allow older workers to continue working, according to new data released by the ONS. The report outlined the detrimental effects associated with people aged 50 or over prematurely exiting the labour market. This included risking the individual’s future financial security as well as having negative implications on the wider economy. As such, the ONS concludes that there are significant benefits in homeworking being offered to this group following the pandemic. In April-May 2021, older workers aged 50 to 69 years who were working from home reported that it improved their work life balance and overall well-being. In addition, older staff who were homeworking throughout the pandemic were over twice as likely to say they were planning to retire later (11 per cent) compared to people not working from home (5 per cent). Productivity levels were largely unaffected or improved through working from home, according to three-quarters of people within this group. This change in working style was shown to have a sizeable impact on
