- According to a Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2022, which has just been made public, 963,800[1] people over 50 years old are unemployed, 3.58% more than in the previous quarter
- Within the context of high structural unemployment figures, for the second consecutive year Generación SAVIA is promoting the declaration of 30 April as the Senior Worker Day, with the aim of giving visibility and valuing the talent and experience of professionals over 50 years of age.
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The figures from the Active Population Survey for the first quarter of the year highlight the need to promote a cultural change with regard to senior talent in Spain. A total of 963,800 people aged over 50 were unemployed between the months of January and March 2022. Seniors represent 30.35% of total unemployment in Spain, that is, almost 1 in 3. For this reason, Generación SAVIA, an Endesa Foundation project in collaboration with the Máshumano Foundation, is once again promoting a campaign to declare 30 April as Senior Workers' Day, with the aim of giving visibility to the experience and knowledge of these professionals and the added value they contribute to society and the labour market.
Unemployment amongst seniors is in line with the overall rise in unemployment. Of those newly registered as unemployed in Spain during the first quarter of the year (70,900), 47% were people over 50 years of age (33,300). An analysis of unemployment in the over-50s shows that the age group recording the highest increase is that from 50 to 54 years old, with an increase of 35,500 unemployed to reach a total of 400,900. With regard to the distribution by gender of senior unemployment, 513,100 are women, representing 53% of the total, and 450,700 are men, 47% of the total.
The campaign to declare 30 April as Senior Workers' Day began in 2021 under the slogan "For those of us who arrived first, our day will come sooner." Since then, more than 3,400 people have signed the manifesto posted on the project's website and many more are expected to join this year. Some very well-known faces were added, including Maribel Verdú, Nieves Herrero, Samantha VallejoNágera and Miguel Rellán.
Six reasons to declare 30 April as Senior Workers' Day
Here in Generación SAVIA, we believe there are many reasons to declare 30 April as Senior Workers' Day. Here are just a few of them:
- Because we would like to improve the employability of senior talent. With this in mind, SAVIA has more than 37,000 professionals and 575 companies registered on our platform. We also have 185 resources and tools provided by a number of entities that support and promote the option to return to the labour market for those over 50 years of age.
- Because more and more organisations are insisting on the importance of generational diversity in work teams.
- Because there is a need for greater social visibility of senior talent, the value they generate and their contribution to the competitiveness and sustainability of organisations.
- Because to make progress in talent management and come to terms with an ageing workforce, we need to launch multigenerational teams to undertake specific projects and actions. These teams will enable the inclusion of both senior and junior professionals and they will contribute to the transfer of knowledge so that it is not lost, as well as motivating all the employees in the organisation.
- Because the pandemic led to unemployment especially amongst senior women: 2021 closed with 308,800 women over 55 unemployed, compared to 254,800 in 2019, according to a report by Adecco. This is the first time that the 300,000 unemployed barrier has been exceeded and many of them are suffering the so-called "double discrimination stigma" (age and gender).
- Because workers value the senior talent in their companies with a score of 7.20 (despite being a good rating, this is the least valued group from the point of view of diversity), according to the MERCO Talent Ranking for 2021.
According to Antonio Mera, Project Manager at the Endesa Foundation, "a commitment to Senior Workers' Day involves recognising the talent and experience of all professionals over 50 years of age, and considering them as an essential part of the labour market in Spain. In addition to giving special mention to all the work done so far, it is especially important to value the work that they can still contribute".
About Generation SAVIA
Generación SAVIA, the ENDESA Foundation project in collaboration with the Máshumano Foundation, has been promoting the employability of workers over the age of 50 for four years, providing solutions through training and networking initiatives, and promoting recognition of the value of these professionals, who have a high rate of unemployment. SAVIA is a platform and community in which collaborative spaces are created and initiatives come together to create job opportunities for senior professionals. It also offers human resources solutions to the Spanish social and business fabric. 37,000 senior professionals and 575 companies are registered with SAVIA. The project also consists of 185 resources and tools provided by collaborating entities.
CONTACT:
Generación SAVIA info@generacionsavia.org Pablo Landaluce
plandaluce@webershandwick.com / Tel 689 697 208