AGE is not an obstacle to job satisfaction, according to a leading Worcestershire recruitment agency.

Hewett Recruitment, which has offices in Worcester and Kidderminster, said Britain's ageing population was being reflected in the Worcestershire job market.

Recognising the skills and experience the over 50s can offer, the company is encouraging this age group - which continues to increase year on year as a proportion of the total population - to return to the workplace.

"We are seeing an increasing number of 50-plus individuals returning to the workplace," said Louise Hewett, managing director of Hewett Recruitment. They are coming to us initially for advice on going back to work, and then, in turn, for temporary or permanent employment opportunities across office and industrial sectors.

"We want to encourage more of this age group to take the same route, as employers are keen to benefit from their experience."

A survey by Saga, which specialises in products for the over-50s market, including the popular Saga radio station, showed that one in three workers would be aged over 50 by the year 2020.

This represents 10 million people, and is a significant increase from 6.9 million people in 2002, and 5.4 million people in 1992.

By 2020, there will be an additional 3.15 million people aged 50 and over in the UK workforce, according to the study, which was carried out for Saga by the Future Foundation.

One of the key reasons for the projected increase is people delaying their retirement due to financial reasons, with four out of 10 workers aged 50 and over claiming to do this.

A smaller-than-expected pension pot, falling stock markets, mortgage commitments and dependent children were all cited as reasons for delaying retirement.

The other reason for the increase in workers over 50, according to the survey, is the growth in the over-50s population as a whole.

It is predicted that by 2020, almost half (48 per cent) of the adult population will be aged 50 and over, compared to 27 per cent in 1992 and 33 per cent in 2002.

But Ms Hewett believes this could be a positive thing for employers.

"I think companies respect the experience and stability that the older temp brings to the workplace," she said.