The Global Employee Benefits Watch 2014 is a survey of 150 senior HR professionals, responsible for more than 3 million employees. It suggests 23% believe rehiring retired employees is now a focus for HR and recruitment teams.
One in ten (10%) added that a general focus on hiring older workers is part of their ongoing people strategies.
More than one-third (35%) of respondents said their recruitment plans for the next five years have radically changed as a result of a shortage of qualified workers, which 69% see as a challenge their organisation will face over the period.
Chris Wakely, SVP of enterprise accounts at Thomsons Online Benefits, told HR magazine an influx of older workers might cause issues with a "lack of churn" for employers.
"Some businesses have gone the other way - you don't get enough churn - there aren't enough spaces for people to move up into'" he said. "You see it a lot where they have generous benefits plans or defined benefits plans which are rare - but people won't leave that company - because the value of the defined benefit is so much and so highly valued - so there's not enough churn to bring through the talented young."
