Training for Older Managers

In the context of projected aging of the working population, this paper drawn upon the Labour Force Survey, and a study of members of the Institute of Management to provide detailed information about the incidence and duration of training undertaken by managers at different ages. Associated with declines in training with increasing age, age-differences in the nature of that training are found. For instance, although older managers attend fewer courses, they are more likely to undertake study visits and report professional meetings with a training element. Level of management, independently of age, is shown to predict time spent in training. Recommendations are made at three levels: encouraging adaptability through organisational norms, developing and applying training procedures which are effective for older learners, and through the creation of national training targets for managers.