Elizabeth Willetts is an experienced recruiter with over 19 years of experience working in one of the UK’s largest recruitment agencies. She is also the founder of Investing in Women, a female-empowering job board, and author of Flex, a dynamic guide for anyone wanting to build a successful career. Here, she explains why your fifties can be the best time to pivot, and the lucrative careers to look for.
Mid-life doesn’t have to be a time of crisis – it can be a reset button for growth and change. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not too late to make a career change after 50. It could come after a period of burnout, lay-offs or realising you don’t want to continue doing the same thing you’ve been doing every day for another 20 years.
This year, the state pension age in the UK rose to 67 – this means that people are staying in the workforce for much longer. Rather than plodding along on autopilot to retirement, many are seeking something new that aligns with their skills and pays well.
In fact, research shows that mid-life career pivots can often lead to higher earnings. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, workers aged 45 to 54 who voluntarily pivot jobs see an average wage growth of 7.4 per cent, while those aged 55 to 64 still see a 3.5 per cent increase. It’s not just monetary – the AARP Global Employee Survey found that over half of workers who changed jobs voluntarily experienced improvements in work flexibility and mental health.
