BOSSES are going to have to get used to employing older people, a minister has said.

Social Security’s consultation document on possible solutions to the demographic timebomb showed that people were strongly opposed to increasing the pension age to 70. Most favoured retaining 65.

And at a breakfast meeting with business leaders yesterday, minister Mark Dorey (pictured) was told that some employers had not wanted to take on people as old as 68.

Deputy Dorey expected attitudes to have softened by 2020, when any changes will come into effect.

By then, he said, the percentage of older people in the workforce would be so high that there would be less prejudice against taking them on – and little option.

‘By that time employers will have to branch to older people just to find enough staff to run their businesses.’

If the current rules are not changed, the pension fund will be exhausted by 2040.