EMPLOYERS in the manufacturing, retail. accommodation and food services sectors are reaping the most benefit from the Restart older workers program, Employment Minister Eric Abetz has said.
Senator Abetz said more than 35 per cent of the 2200 Restart placements to date had been in those sectors.
More than 360 older workers had been placed in jobs through the program since July 1.
He urged business to recognise hiring an older worker through Restart could be the best decision they would ever take.
Restart offers employers up to $10,000 in wage subsidies to help with recruitment and related costs when they hire an eligible jobseeker aged 50 or older.
Mr Abetz said Ambassador for Mature Age Employment Susan Ryan had helped keep the momentum strong, as had improvements announced in the May budget.
"As part of the changes, employers can access the wage subsidies sooner to help them with the upfront costs of hiring a new employee," he said.
"This will help local businesses when they need it the most.
"And employers who take advantage of Restart to provide older people with work are winners.
"That's because besides getting a keen new worker and a wage subsidy, they also benefit from the lifetime of skills and experience that those workers bring to their business.
"It's also pleasing that Restart is proving effective in helping older workers with disability return to the workforce, with 548 of those placed being Disability Employment Services clients."
Details at www.employment.gov.au/Restart
