Over 50s could take on takeaway delivery jobs to earn extra cash, says DWP minister

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A senior minister has suggested over-50s start taking different avenues of work such as delivering takeaways. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride delivered the comments during a visit to the London headquarters of food delivery firm Deliveroo which saw an increase of riders aged over 50 by 62 per cent since 2021.

In an interview with the Times, Mr Stride was asked if over-50s should apply for jobs that are generally seen for younger people.

He said: “There are loads of great opportunities out there for people and it’s of course good for people to consider options they might not have otherwise thought of.” Mr Stride said of firms like Deliveroo: “What we’re seeing here is the ability to log on and off any time you like, no requirement to have to do a certain number of hours over a certain period of time, which is driving huge opportunities… Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features “From an employer’s point of view in a tight labour market, it’s absolutely essential if you want to access all the available talent that you provide as flexible an offer as you can.” Mr Stride also discussed the digital "mid-life MOTs" which are designed to help older workers with financial planning, health guidance, and career skills.

He added: "You really do need to sensibly stop, take where you are in life, and assess whether for example, you’ve got enough money to get you through with the kind of lifestyle and living standards that you’re expecting. Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link “We tend to think everything is going to continue roughly as it is and you’ll always be able to find a job later on in life.