A global innovation competition has been launched to find ways to encourage and support more older workers to return or remain in the workplace.

The "Work for tomorrow: Innovating for an ageing workforce" challenge aims to provide solutions to powering current and future organisations with more experienced workers.

A large element of the competition will focus on discovering ways to ensure ageing workers remain 'fit to work'.

This includes ways to enable them to stay physically and mentally healthy through physical activity initiatives.

The competition is being organised by the International Longevity Centre (ILC) think tank.

Applications are open until 31 October 2021 and there are four challenge categories: maintaining good health, building knowledge, skills, and competence, addressing discrimination and supporting diversity, and adapting the workplace.

"Harnessing the potential of workers, regardless of age, will be crucial in the post-pandemic recovery and could deliver a significant longevity dividend to economies across the world," ILC said.

"But too often, barriers such as poor health, caring responsibilities or ageism in the workplace shut older workers out of the job market.

"With an ageing workforce, we need to rethink the way we work, learn and live. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind.

"For this reason, we have launched Work for Tomorrow, an international innovation competition, supported by the Innovation Resource Center for HR, which will be looking for innovations and policy ideas to respond to the opportunities and challenges of an ageing workforce."

To read more about the competition, click here.