In 2007, the SPEAR Centre received funding directly from NCVER for another program of work focused on the position of older workers in the Australian labour market and their experiences as they approach retirement. The contract covers a work program over three calendar years: 2007 to 2010.

For further information see, http://www.ncver.edu.au/workinprogress/projects/10407.html

Project Title - Securing their future: Older workers and the role of VET

Project workplan:

1. Who works beyond the 'standard' retirement age and why?
   This project investigates which types of workers continue in employment beyond age 65 years.
   
   
2. Skill (mis)matches and over education of younger workers.
   This research project will provide empirical evidence on occupational changes and changes in skill use measures induced by over-education.
   
   
3. Differing skill requirements across countries and over time.
   This project investigates how literacy and numeracy use at work differs across English-speaking countries and how it has changed over time.
   
   
4. Senior Australians and the take-up of new technologies.
   The aim of this study is to examine how senior Australians have taken up information and communication technologies and how that take-up differs among different groups of senior Australians.
   
   
5. The returns to skill accumulation.
   This study will look at the accumulation of skills of workers, at least in prime age ranges, through the study of wages. We intend to look at the factors that contribute to the growth in wages as cohorts age as including increases in education and training qualification levels, increases in observed skills (literacy skills, specifically) and the accumulation of experience. We also propose to analyse whether it is the most skilled in any cohort whose wages increase the most – that is, to assess the extent to which skill begets skill.
   
   
6. Training requirements of foreign-born workers in different countries.
   The aim of this study is to examine differences in the relative experiences of foreign-born workers in four (mainly) English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada) compared with the experiences of the native-born. By ‘experiences’, we mean their relative literacy and numeracy skills and their reports of the extent to which they utilise their skills in their jobs.