PUBLIC WANTS DRA SCRAPPED
More than two-thirds of people want to see the Government abolish the default retirement age (DRA) of 65. A survey of 1,011 people found 70% think it is wrong to let employers make their staff stop working when they reach a set age. The Government has already pledged to "phase out" the DRA, but the charity Age UK has called on ministers to end confusion by setting out in the Budget this week a clear date for its abolition. The charity said £3.5b had been wasted in 2009 because tens of thousands of workers were forced to retire because they turned 65.
SKILLS SHORTAGE PERSISTS
Skills shortages have persisted during the recession, with more than two-thirds of employers struggling to recruit owing to a lack of specialist skills. The Resourcing and Talent Planning survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found 68% of organisations have experienced recruitment difficulties, with 67% reporting an inability to source specialist talent. The survey of nearly 500 organisations revealed the recession has had a negative impact on resourcing budgets in 2010 for 53% of firms.