PRIME Cymru, HRH, the Prince of Wales' charity established to assist people over 50 into work or business, have highlighted the plight of older jobseekers in Pembrokeshire. Recent figures have shown dramatic disparities between long term unemployment rates in different age groups, with people over 50 most likely to have difficulty finding a new job.

The latest unemployment figures expose the real difference in employment chances based upon age. The perception of young unemployed people becoming a forgotten generation appears to be more emotive than evidenced.

In the last two years, the numbers of older jobseekers (50 - state pension age), unemployed for more than two years has quadrupled.

There are now 20 older jobseekers who have been out of work for more than two years in Pembrokeshire. There are five younger jobseekers unemployed for over two years.

David Pugh, chief executive of PRIME Cymru, has called for immediate action from the UK, Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council to help older workers return to work by providing immediate specialist support for older jobseekers and improved access to education and training.

David Pugh said: "It is vital that the Government make their decisions based upon evidence, not upon emotion. Older workers have an enormous amount of skills and experience to bring to the workplace, but quite often they do not have the formal qualifications required by employers. We should not abandon them at this time, but provide the essential tailored support they need to enable them to return to meaningful employment.

"The number of older workers being made redundant and not finding alternative jobs has been a greater problem in Wales than in any other part of the UK. More needs to be done to address this critical problem. There are now over 1,000 older jobseekers in Wales who have been out of work for over two years. There is an enormous amount of talent and expertise amongst older people that we are likely to lose forever unless we help them now. Without help, these older jobseekers are likely to be less healthy and more likely to be living in poverty as poor pensioners.

"We fully support the specialist and well resourced measures and programmes available to help younger jobseekers. However, older people have different, but equally difficult problems in finding employment and do not have the same level of support. Equality of opportunity must be provided to older jobseekers. Older jobseekers need specialist support from day one of their unemployment to ensure that they do not become part of a lost generation."

PRIME Cymru are offering free personal support to anyone over the age of 50 in Pembrokeshire who is looking for work or would like to start a business. Clients will be offered a fully trained mentor to support them to achieve their ambitions. PRIME can be contacted free on 0800 587 4085 or email [email protected]">[email protected]