Exact age you're likely to be branded 'too old' for job roles - and it's younger than you think

Older people are being discriminated when it comes to recruitment, new data shows.

The research, from Totaljobs, has found that 57 is the average age at which candidates are considered 'too old' for roles. In England and Wales alone, this represents 4.2 million people and £138 billion in economic output at risk of being overlooked due to entrenched ageism in hiring.

Despite the UK facing a significant skills shortage, a third of over-50s fear they won’t secure another job due to age discrimination. This concern is more striking among black workers in this age group, of which 48 per cent fear they won't be employed again as well as older women of which 37 per cent are concerned they won't be hired.

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The research found that one in seven candidates over 50 have been rejected from a job explicitly due to their age - and 22 per cent have removed their age from CVs with 49 per cent doing so to avoid being stereotyped. And, 59 per cent of HR decision-makers admit to making assumptions about candidates based on age, with 42 per cent experiencing pressure from colleagues to prioritise and hire younger candidates.

Additionally, 47 per cent of these hirers believe that a candidate's age influences their 'cultural fit' within the organisation. This prejudice is discouraging those over-50 from seeking new employment, with a quarter hesitating to apply for jobs – a figure that rises to 28 per cent among women and 42 per cent among Black workers.

This is despite a third of workers expressing a willingness to remain in the workforce beyond the state retirement age. This represents an additional 300,000 full-time workers each year from 2030 to 2035 for those who would reach retirement age by 2035 as well as an additional £12 billion in economic activity.

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The Equality Act 2010 protects people from age discrimination in the workplace, including during the recruitment process. 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."

Totaljobs has partnered with Professor Sarah Vickerstaff, a leading authority of Work and Employment at the University of Kent, to produce The Age Advantage: Overcoming Age Bias to Hire Experienced Talent. This report urges employers to leverage the value that over 50s bring to the workforce and offers practical guidance on overcoming age-related biases in recruitment.

Professor Vickerstaff said: "Many older workers are eager to continue working, but face significant barriers including age discrimination and the perception that they are 'too old' for available roles. While governments have raised retirement ages to extend working lives and reduce welfare costs, the benefits of an age-diverse workforce go beyond the economic.'

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