Labor will sharpen its attacks on the Morrison government over the growing number of older Australians out of full-time work, seizing on a 45 per cent increase in people over 55 years of age who are claiming unemployment benefits.

One in four Australians on Newstart are now aged 55 or over – the single-largest group of recipients of the allowance - having surged 58,313 in five years, according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Services.

Linda Burney says the Morrison government is not doing enough to help Australians over 55 who are out of work. Credit:AAP

This is despite the proportion of working-age Australians receiving income support payments falling to 14.3 per cent - its lowest level in 30 years.

Labor's social services spokeswoman Linda Burney said older Australians had experienced particular difficulty in re-entering the workforce due to structural barriers and age discrimination.