A third of the workforce is over 50 - is business ready?

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Jeff Wilson about two recent Australian Industry Group research notes examining workforce ageing and changing retirement patterns. While workforce planning often focuses on attracting and training younger workers, the discussion highlights why the other end of the workforce pipeline is becoming just as important. Older workers now make up a much larger share of the labour market than they did a generation ago, and changing retirement patterns are reshaping how businesses think about skills, succession and workforce planning. Drawing on new research, Louise and Jeff examine why retirement is increasingly becoming a gradual transition rather than a single event, and what this means for employers trying to retain critical skills and institutional knowledge. The episode considers the implications for both businesses and policymakers, arguing that successful workforce planning requires more than bringing new workers in. It also means understanding how experienced workers leave, transfer knowledge and navigate retirement in a labour market that looks very different from previous generations. Key takeaways • Older workers now make up a significantly larger share of Australia's workforce than they did a generation ago. • Rising workforce participation among older women has been one of the most important drivers of this change. • Some industries, including manufacturing, transport, utilities and construction, face particularly acute workforce ageing challenges. • Retirement is increasingly becoming a staged transition rather than a single event, with more people working later in life and in different ways. • Many older workers have no clear retirement plan, creating challenges for both workforce planning and individual retirement outcomes. • Businesses risk losing not only experienced workers but also valuable training, mentoring and corporate knowledge when retirements are poorly planned. Links mentioned in this podcast episode: • Research Note: How Australia’s ageing workforce is reshaping the labour market (https://www.australianindustrygroup.c...) • Research Note: How Retirement Dynamics Are Shifting with Australia's Ageing Workforce (https://www.australianindustrygroup.c...) Contact the Industry Development & Policy team (mailto:industry.policy@australianindustrygroup.com.au) .