Tina Chummun, a 50-year-old with two master's degrees and a doctorate in progress, has applied for jobs every day for the past two years. Despite submitting around 4,000 applications, she remains unemployed and thousands of pounds in debt to her mortgage lender, facing the prospect of moving in with her mother.
Ms Chummun, who lost her job in April 2024, has been working part-time as a counsellor and marketing consultant but cannot earn enough to cover her bills. She believes her age is the main reason for the rejections, saying the government must step in to help older people who feel excluded from the job market.
She has only received one interview for a marketing role in two years. Her mortgage lender took her to court after she struggled to pay her bills. 'It's just one nightmare after another,' she told The Independent. Her four-bedroom house in Kettering, Northamptonshire, is now for sale as she plans to move to London to improve her chances of finding work.
Government figures show around 876,000 people aged 50–64 would like to work but are not. Meanwhile, the government recently announced a £1bn youth unemployment scheme offering employers £3,000 to hire young people. Ms Chummun says such incentives hurt older workers, as employers prefer younger staff who can be paid less.
The Centre for Ageing Better warns that the labour market is in crisis at both ends of the age scale. Dr Andrea Barry, the charity's deputy director, said a 1% increase in employment among 50- to 64-year-olds could boost the economy by over £7bn. She called for tailored employment support for older workers, noting that 60- to 64-year-olds face the highest poverty rates among over-25s.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: 'Our Get Britain Working reforms will boost employment for people of all ages by overhauling job centres and providing personalised work and skills support.'
