Prior to COVID, gendered patterns in ageing had long been recognised in Australia. As a cohort, older women often face barriers to the well-paid and flexible work they need to save for retirement. Many are still caring for teens/grandchildren, as well as ageing parents. Having often spent a lifetime in part-time work, older women on average retire with half the superannuation of men. Many lack capital assets such as housing, a pillar of Australia’s retirement income system.

Financial and employment insecurity after 40 has long-term implications. Women who experience unemployment in their 50s spend twice as long on JobSeeker as younger men. Their prevalence in the private rental sector (PRS) also marks them the cohort most at risk of homelessness.

Understanding the importance of secure, safe and flexible work as women age, this research sought to benchmark work outcomes and conditions under the pandemic and to provide a platform for less heard voices.