Older workers in Australia: A policy perspective

The paper seeks to offer an objective assessment of Australian attitudes towards ageing and age discrimination, through an examination of the literature, the laws, and the current perspectives on workforce ageing. First, the paper offers an overview of demographic ageing and its possible implications for organisations and the overall society, which is then followed by an examination of older workers' issues from legal, socio-political, and employment perspectives. The analysis highlights that ageing policy in Australia is increasingly influenced by an orientation towards economic rationalism, which does not adequately address the social construct of ageing and its implications for older workers.