KEY POINTS:
The number of older people in jobs has increased markedly in the last five years, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand today.
There has been a 67.7 per cent increase in the number of 60 to 64 year olds in jobs in the last five years and a 109.4 per cent increase in the number of over 65 year olds in jobs. The increase for those aged between 55 and 59 in work was 48.3 per cent.
The figures are from September 2000 to 2005. Statistics New Zealand doesn't know whether the increase is due to more older workers seeking work or just an increase in the jobs available to them.
Although employees aged 65 years and over had one of the lowest levels of earnings, they had the highest increase in earnings between 2000 and 2005 of 39.2 per cent.
Their average mean quarterly earnings increased from $4750 to $6610 between 2000 and 2005.
- NZPA
