The Welsh Government has begun a new drive to encourage businesses in the Newport area to invest in the skills of older workers and maximise their contribution to the economy.

It is estimated that within five years a third of the working age population in Wales will be aged over 50 and in the next ten years the number of young people leaving education will only be able to fill half of the vacancies opening up in the workforce through new job creation and replacement of those who leave the workforce.

There are concerns across the UK that too many older workers have already been pushed out of the workforce prematurely taking their skills and experience with them.

However, on the other hand, with changes to pension provision, it is expected more people will need to extend their working lives and the Welsh Government is urging employers to prepare for this by continually updating the skills of their workers and future proofing their businesses.

This campaign calls for greater employer focus and investment in the skills of older workers and coincides with Business in the Community’s annual Business Action Week, which this year focuses specifically on older workers.

Each area of Wales has particular skills demands to meet expected developments within its regional economy and the Welsh Government’s Skills Implementation Plan urges employers to ensure older workers play a full part in these developments.

With scores of digital companies announcing new offices opening in Newport and the ongoing drive to position the city as the technology capital of Wales, hundreds of jobs are set to be created for those in the digital industry - one of the nine key sectors identified by Welsh Government as a priority growth sector.

Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology said: “It’s essential that businesses invest in training programmes to ensure their older workers are continuously developing their skills and preparing for new challenges. Older workers are a really valuable resource to the Welsh economy and supporting their progress is essential for the health of individual businesses and future economic growth.

“Newport’s expected growth in the coming years will need a wave of new skills. Only part of that demand will come from younger workers and those entering the workforce for the first time. It’s vital older workers are supported to play their part and their experience is harnessed to help cultivate the skills and capabilities of the younger generation.”

Business in the Community’s Missing Million report shows 91 per cent of over-50s have expressed a desire to learn and progress in their working lives.