Across the world, Governments in mature industrial and post-industrial economies are concerned about the ageing population. Dealing directly and exclusively with the issue of older workers, this book brings together up-to-the minute research findings by many of the leading researchers and writers in the field. The authors address key issues that will influence public policy in the UK and beyond, including: What do workers over 50 want: the opportunity to retire early, to retire gradually or to carry on working past state pension ages? What impact will an ageing workforce have on employer policies towards recruitment, training, career management and retirement? How will the government promote the benefits of extending working lives, and what supports will older workers and their employers need from the government's pension, taxation and benefits regimes? The duration and quality of working lives, and the timing and circumstances of retirement is of growing concern, especially in those cases where employers' demands and imperatives clash with employees' wishes. The contributions in this volume focus upon various measures taken by the state and employers to foster the employment of older workers in Britain, mainland Europe, the USA and Japan. The book is aimed at academics, students, policy-makers and other professionals (e.g. training managers, HR professionals and trade unionists) interested in contemporary issues within social policy, sociology of ageing, human resource and diversity management. It will also be of interest to older workers themselves.