Description:

The Kok Report claims that an ageing Italian workforce will impact negatively on the country's economic growth from 2015 and to achieve the Stockholm European Council's target of 50% of 55-64 years old employed by 2010 (Kok 2004) it will be necessary retrain significant sections of the older workforce. The paper critically appraises this recommendation in the case of Italy on the following bases. Factors pertaining to older workers: low levels of training experienced by most older workers (Migliore 2005); low participation in LLL among people aged 50-64 years old (Migliore 2005); little interest in VET amongst older workers. Factors pertaining to employers: cost/benefits of training is negative for older employees and management not oriented to supporting older workers. Consequently, to address older workers' needs it will be necessary to develop: new innovation management practices in the workplaces to combat entrenched attitudes towards viewing older workers as a cost'; new rules in the labour market to facilitate flexible retirement, abolition of early retirement, financial incentives to work longer, to hire and keep older workers; and new strategies for accessing VET to older workers.