Almost half (40%) of older workers think younger colleagues teach them skills they did not previously have, according to a study commissioned by Jobcentre Plus.

The research highlights the benefits to businesses of employing a diverse range of age groups, with 66% of older employees and 65% of young workers claiming to recognise the benefits of working with people of all ages.

“The research shows that having the right balance of age and skills can bring numerous benefits to establishing a complete workforce for both employers and employees,” said Lesley Strathie, chief executive at Jobcentre Plus.

“Both older and younger workers appreciate and learn from the qualities each brings to the workplace,” she added. “It’s not always easy to get the mix right.”

The main quality young people believe older workers bring to the workplace is experience, quoted by 94%, followed by reliability (66%) and understanding (63%).

Nearly two-thirds of older staff were impressed by younger colleagues’ ability to learn quickly, be flexible (61%) and give them energy (51%).

But the survey also revealed some notable differences between the generation gap. Over half of older workers felt young colleagues were more likely to take risks, while 30% of younger workers thought older staff were more willing to work anti-social hours compared to 23% of older workers about younger employees.

The motivations for coming to work also differed slightly. While both groups said money was the main factor, this was more prevalent in younger than older workers (73% compared to 52%). More than one in five (22%) of older employees said they worked for personal satisfaction.

“Tapping into a wider pool of talent, experience and skills can help employers increase productivity, maintain a competitive advantage and improve the bottom line,” said Chris Ball, chief executive at The Employment Age Network, which supported the study.