More over-65s still in work - ONS

More older people are still at work after reaching 65, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown.

The ONS noted that despite the recession 870,000 people aged 65 and over were in work in the last quarter of 2010 compared to around 412,000 in 2001.

This increase will be seen as particularly crucial to those businesses offering benefits to their employees and highlights the importance of the exemption granted to the group risk industry with the removal of the default retirement age.

Since the onset of the recent recession, full-time employment rates have fallen for those aged 16 to 64.

However, the situation was different for those aged 65 and over, where it rose by 0.5 percentage points between January to March 2008 (the final quarter before the downturn) and October to December 2010.

This increase is seen in both full-time and part-time employment, where in October to December 2010:

• 2.7 per cent (270,000) worked full-time, up from 1.2 per cent (106,000) in January to March 2001,

• 6.1 per cent (600,000) worked part-time, up from 3.4 per cent (306,000) in January to March 2001.

ONS statistician Jamie Jenkins said: "The analysis released today gives more detail on the characteristics of those people working after reaching the age of 65.

"Over the last decade these older workers make up an increasing percentage of the total workforce in the UK, doubling from 1.5 per cent in 2001, to 3.0 per cent in 2010.

"The analysis also showed that around two-thirds of those in work after reaching the age of 65 have been with their current employer for over 10 years."