The government’s £500m cash injection to get unemployed people for more than six months back to work does not go far enough, according to the chief executive of The Age and Employment Network (TAEN).

Chris Ball, TAEN CEO, says that the biggest problem for older workers made newly unemployed is their short shelf life in the labour market and for those looking for work it is particularly bad, because over this length of time the problem will get bigger.

“Waiting for six months for the enhanced support risks the cycle of despondency and inaction setting in for someone in their 50s. Prospective employers often turn their noses up at older people unemployed for some months – and suddenly you are into a whole new ball game. The possibility then is that the older unemployed person will become reconciled to not working.

“We know that older workers take longer to find work – assuming that they do find jobs – even when the economy is thriving. When the economy is in recession they just go even further back in the queue. We believe they need to be able to draw down additional help after three months rather than waiting for six months along with easier-to-place groups.”