A new report shows that many over 50s feel the need to lie about their age when applying for jobs due to fearing age discrimination.
As many as 42% of HR decision-makers have confirmed these fears in a survey, saying they’ve personally experienced pressure to hire younger workers.
The Totaljobs latest research found that 57 is the average age at which candidates are considered ‘too old’ for job roles – this represents 4.2 million people as well as £138 billion in economic output.
The Age Advantage: Overcoming Age Bias to Hire Experienced Talent report also found that as a result, 25% of those over 50 are hesitant about applying for jobs – a figure that increases to 28% among women and 42% among black workers.
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Natalie Matalon, Chief People Officer at Totaljobs (part of The Stepstone Group), said, “With the highest level of economically inactive people in over a decade, there’s a real chance for employers to tap into the wealth of knowledge and skills that older workers offer. However, our research shows unconscious biases are still preventing many businesses from fully accessing this vital talent pool.
“Our ageing population means that the workforce is naturally evolving, and those who embrace the experience and diversity of perspective of older workers will be better positioned to support younger workers in their careers and address talent shortages.
“While it’s promising that many employers are already recognising the value of over 50s, accelerating efforts to build more inclusive recruitment practices will unlock even more growth opportunities for business and people.”
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