Sir, Once again the Government is planning to bully those receiving benefits into taking jobs (report, July 21). Nowhere in its policies does it talk of coercing — or incentivising — employers into offering them jobs. Yet most people over the age of 50 who are looking for work (whether or not they are in receipt of benefits) will make dozens, often hundreds, of job applications without even getting replies. If they have been off work for any length of time with illness, especially mental illness, their chances of getting back into work are virtually zero. The public sector is as much at fault as the private sector in this. Those few who get a reply from an employer are frequently told that they are overqualified. How does this tie in with the so-called skills shortage?

Several recent studies have shown that there are about one million “economically inactive” older people in the UK, about half of whom receive incapacity benefit, who are anxious to work. In a recession that number is likely to grow. It is high time that the Government realised that employability is not the same as being in employment and that willingness to take a job is not the same as being offered one. Time for the Government to offer carrots and sticks to employers — and to put its own house in order.

Julia Evans
Consultant on age and employment
Lyonshall, Herefordshire

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