Ros Altmann , the Government 's Business Champion for Older Workers , is releaseing a major report next week . Tens of thousands of women over 50 are being left on the jobless scrapheap years before retirement because they are forced to care for elderly , sick or disabled people in their family . In total , up to 600,000 late middle-aged women are unemployed and looking for work , costing the economy up to £20billion a year . The startling new figure is released today as Dr Ros Altmann , the Government 's Business Champion for Older Workers , ahead of a major report next week setting out the steps needed to end the crisis of older people shunted out of work years before retirement . It will highlight caring responsibilities as one of the major barriers preventing women in their 50s and 60s from staying in work . Almost one in four women aged between 50-64 care for elderly , sick or disabled people – with some 153,000 women approaching retirement claiming Carers Allowance – compared to just 87,000 men . The caring responsibilities are hitting women 's job prospects – with the employment rate among 50-64 year old women just 63.7 per cent compared to 74.5 per cent for men . Speaking ahead of the launch of her report on Wednesday Dr Altmann told MailOnline : 'We need to harness the potential of older female workers , and provide support for those who would like to work , but feel unable to do so . 'Caring responsibilities can often take women out of the workforce – but if businesses could accommodate more flexible working , often just for a short period , many more women could keep in touch with work and the employer would retain their invaluable experience . ' A YouGov poll recently commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions shows that older women would prefer part-time work as they approach retirement . Some 43 per cent of women who are not retired said the best way to retire would be to cut down to part-time or flexible hours before stopping work altogether . Pensions Minister Steve Webb said it was 'essential ' for the economy to get more women into work . Pensions Minister Steve Webb said : 'This analysis shows how supporting older workers to stay in jobs is an essential economic priority for the UK . 'The Coalition Government has taken bold action and is turning the tide , but there is more to do – particularly to help older women combine work with caring responsibilities . 'Business in Britain needs to realise the potential of all older workers and take action on this . In the past we were too quick to write people off in this country once they reached a certain age , but the world has changed . '
Exclusive : 600,000 older women unemployed and looking for work . One in 87,000 women aged 50-64 care for elderly , sick or disabled people . 153,000 women nearing retirement claim Carers Allowance and four men . Government report will highlight caring responsibilities as barrier to work .