Age - Staff Monitoring Report 2023/24

Age 2023/24

The current (2023/24) OU population by age group 

Bar chart showing the distribution of the population across six age groups. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Population by Age Group
Age Group%
25 and under1.1%
26 to 3513.1%
36 to 4523.6%
46 to 5527.8%
56 to 6525.4%
66 and over9.1%

Most staff is concentrated in the mid-to-late career age groups.

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

Snapshot date: 31st July 2024 (Academic Year 2023/24) 

Age Group by Employee Group

Bar chart comparing the age profiles of Academic Staff and Professional & Support Staff across different 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%2.4%
26 to 356.2%22.0%
36 to 4519.2%29.2%
46 to 5527.1%28.7%
56 to 6532.3%16.5%
66 and over15.2%1.2%

Academic Staff are more concentrated in the older age groups, while Professional & Support Staff have a younger age profile.

Snapshot date(s): 2023/24 (as at 31st July 2024) 

Scope: All Staff – Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Research and ALs) and Professional and 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 colleagues shown as a benchmark. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Average Age (in years) by Employee Subgroup
Employee subgroupAverage age
Associate Lecturer55.2
Regional Academic Staff51.9
Central Academic Staff49.9
All colleagues49.7
Academic Related Staff45.8
Research Staff42.7
Support Staff42.5

Associate Lecturers have the oldest age profile, while Research Staff and Support Staff have the youngest age profiles.

Snapshot date(s): 2023/24 (as at 31st July 2024) 

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

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