Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of older workers say that they have felt discriminated against by a prospective employer because of their age, a report has revealed.
The report, conducted by online job search site, Totaljobs, found that just six per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds see their age as an advantage when applying for jobs, while a worrying 82 per cent see their age as a disadvantage.
Rather than being valued for their greater experience and wisdom, older workers are feeling overlooked when coming up against millennials in the jobs market, the report says.
By contrast, around 31 per cent of 16 to 24-year olds feel disadvantaged because of their age, while just 16 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds said the same.
But once job seekers reach 35, they are much more likely to see their age as a disadvantage than as an advantage.
John Salt, group sales director at Totaljobs, said: “In a candidate-led market where businesses continue to create new jobs, there’s no reason for employers to miss out on talent. But [our research] shows that age discrimination, whether conscious or unconscious, still exists and is still an issue affecting many jobseekers.
“Older generations bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge. In many cases, candidates with more experience tend to be more confident and able to creatively problem solve based on both the life and work experiences they have dealt with over the years.”
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