45 Plus: Choices In The Labour Market – Qualitative Study
This report presents the results of the third and final stage of research commissioned by the New Zealand Department of Labour (DoL) to identify:
- the reasons for the non-participation in paid employment of those aged 45 years and over;
- the potential role of career information, advice and guidance (CIAG) in assisting that group;
- and what options for targeted CIAG would be most beneficial to this group.
Using a qualitative research approach, this research stage focused on subgroups of mature non-participants identified in the survey. Subgroups included people who were actively looking for paid employment and those who were not, and groups based on age, gender, ethnicity and carer responsibilities and/or disability.
The level of importance paid employment played in their emotional and financial well-being were the main drivers in underpinning their interest in entering/re-entering the workforce rather than demographic and situational characteristics. Knowing how to gain job-seeking assistance depended on how motivated mature non-participants were to re-enter the workforce, and how recently they had looked for work. The research also explored the satisfaction of mature non-participants with existing career information, advice and guidance services and how they conceptualise an ideal careers service for their age group.