Almost all UK professionals (92%) believe that older workers make a valuable contribution to their organisation and yet people as young as 45 are struggling to find new employment because of their age, new research from CV-Library this week shows.
The job site’s study of 2,400 UK employees over the age of 18 found that although 76.6 percent think mature workers bring a breadth of experience and knowledge to an organisation that can’t be matched by younger recruits, almost half (46%) of 55-64 year olds said they found age to be a hindrance to finding a new job.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library said:
“Age is a sensitive subject for many but it should never be an obstacle in the workplace. It’s reassuring to see that UK professionals understand the valuable contribution older workers make to UK businesses, but it’s not enough if age discrimination still exists in the recruitment process.”
While almost half of respondents (48.5%) said they define “older workers” as those over the age of 60, people in their early forties reported finding it difficult to “start again” in a new position, suggesting a disconnect between public perception and practical hiring choices for businesses.
Biggins added:
“Hearing that someone in their 30s feels too old to start a new career is extremely worrying. Staff are excited about working with talented professionals, regardless of age, and businesses need to listen to this feedback. Age discrimination in the workplace or the recruitment process is unacceptable and it’s time to break down barriers for older workers looking for jobs.”
The research was conducted ahead of National Older People’s Day (Thursday 1st October).
Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.
