More women over-50 have quit the workforce than men since the pandemic hit the UK, creating a growing employment gap between older men and women.

Analysis of the latest ONS data highlights a widening difference between men and women over-50, post pandemic.

The result is that there are now nearly 600,000 more men than women still working past 50, according to analysis by Just Group.

Just Group wants the government to do more to help women over 50 who want to continue working.

According to the latest labour market figures for April-June 2022, there were 5,640,000 men over 50 and 5,049,000 women over 50 in employment, a difference of 591,000.  

This gap has increased since the pandemic by over 100,000. As of January-March 2020, there were 5,596,000 men and 5,108,000 women over 50 in the workforce.  

Just says the figures reveal that over the period since the pandemic began in March 2020, 59,000 women over 50+ have dropped out of the workforce compared to a small rise in the number of working men older than 50. 

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at retirement specialist Just Group, said: “Before the pandemic, there were still fewer women than men aged over 50 in the labour market, but the gap was narrowing due mostly to the recent rises in State Pension Age. 

“Today’s figures show that trend has been thrown into reverse since the pandemic, with a net loss of women aged over 50 in the workforce. The data highlights the need for the government and employers to provide more proactive support for older workers, especially women, who want to work. 

“Our research finds that retired women over 55 are more likely than men to drop out of the workforce because of ill-health or to provide care, and much less confident than men that they could find paid employment if they wanted to.  

“In a tightening labour market attracting and retaining these ‘silver workers’ provides employers with a ready-made experienced workforce that has a lifetime of skills and experience to offer. If these older workers, especially women are finding it hard to stay in the workplace or are choosing not to return, then perhaps as employers we need to reflect on why and what we can do to entice them back.”

• Separate research by Just Group has found that nearly half of the lowest income retired households are women living by themselves. Single woman households significantly outnumber those of single men in all but the highest income group, according to analysis of ONS data. Single women make up nearly half (49%) of the 1.7 million households in the bottom quintile where gross annual income is £12,706. Single men make up 18% and the remaining third (33%) are couples or homes with two or more adults.