Age - Staff Monitoring Report 2021/22

Age 2021/22

The current (2021/22) OU population by age group

Bar chart showing the distribution of staff across six age groups. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Population by Age Group
Age Group%
25 and under1.7%
26 to 3513.6%
36 to 4522.1%
46 to 5527.4%
56 to 6525.8%
66 and over9.5%

The workforce is concentrated in the middle and later career age groups.

Scope: All Staff (please see inclusion/exclusion table) 

Snapshot date: 31stJuly 2022 (Academic Year 2021/22)

Current Year (2021/22) and percentage change from previous year (2020/21)

Two bar charts. The left chart repeats the Population by Age Group shown above. The right chart shows percentage change from last year by age group. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Percentage change difference from previous year (2020/21 vs 2021/22)
Age Group% change
25 and under-4.0%
26 to 3516.2%
36 to 4511.5%
46 to 557.1%
56 to 659.3%
66 and over9.3%

While there is a decrease in the proportion of staff aged 25 and under, the other age groups show an increase from last year.

Snapshot date(s): 2021/22 compared to 2020/21 population data (as at 31stJuly of each year). 

Scope: All Staff –Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Researcher & ALs) and Professional & Support Staff –data does not include OU subsidiaries (OUSA, OUW, Mulberry Bear) or agency/temp workers.

Age Group by Employee Group

Grouped bar chart comparing the age profiles of Academic Staff and Professional & Support Staff across six age groups. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Age Group by Employee Group
Age GroupAcademic StaffProfessional & Support Staff
25 and under0.0%3.8%
26 to 356.7%22.7%
36 to 4518.8%26.4%
46 to 5527.0%28.1%
56 to 6532.0%17.5%
66 and over15.5%1.5%

Professional & Support Staff have a younger age profile than Academic Staff.

Snapshot date(s): 2021/22 (as at 31stJuly 2022) 

Scope: All Staff –Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Researcher & ALs) and Professional & Support Staff –data does not include OU subsidiaries (OUSA, OUW, Mulberry Bear) or agency/temp workers

Average Age by Employee Subgroup

Horizontal bar chart comparing the average age of different employee subgroups with all staff shown as a benchmark. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Average Age (in years) by Employee Subgroup
Employee subgroupAverage age
Associate Lecturer54.6
Regional Academic Staff53.0
Central Academic Staff50.5
All colleagues49.7
Academic Related Staff45.9
Support Staff41.9
Research Staff41.7

Associate Lecturers and Regional Academic Staff have the oldest age profiles.

Snapshot date(s): 2021/22 (as at 31stJuly 2022) 

Scope: All Staff –Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Researcher & ALs) and Professional & Support Staff –data does not include OU subsidiaries (OUSA, OUW, Mulberry Bear) or agency/temp workers.

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