Get over-50s back to work to tackle UK labour shortage, says John Lewis boss

Sharon White says government should think much more' about encouraging Covid retirees to return on flexible basis

The boss of John Lewis has said that the 1 million mostly over-50s who left their jobs during the Covid pandemic should be encouraged back to work to tackle the labour shortage that is pushing up inflation and wages.

Dame Sharon White, a former second permanent secretary at the Treasury and chief executive of media and postal regulator Ofcom, said she had never seen such a difficult economic situation facing businesses.