It is well known the value that the older worker brings to an organisation; the knowledge that they hold and can pass on to younger and newer employees can even benefit other organisations should they change roles.
But new research from Anglia Ruskin University’s Lord Ashcroft International Business School has unveiled that women over the age of 50 are up to 25 times less likely to be called for a job interview than women in their late 20’s.
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University’s Lord Ashcroft International Business School conducted an experiment where they used constructed CVs of “jobseekers” aged 28 to 50 with similar skill sets to apply for more than 1,800 jobs over the space of two years.
The results showed that candidates in their 20s were on average 4.2 times more likely to receive an interview offer. Younger men were 3.6 times more likely to reach the next stage in an application, compared to 5.3 times for women.
The research was based on an experiment measuring job applications which revealed the disparity between the chances of applicants being offered an interview based on their age, despite similar experience and qualifications.
Many employers are unaware that they are discriminating employees based on their age, and of course, discrimination is in fact very difficult to prove.
While some older employees may not realise that they are being discriminated against, if they suspect discrimination, they should remember that they can question the employer to ask the reasons why their job application did not progress further.
It is vital that organisations look at the employee base and the mix of ages it includes, and ensures that it is diverse. As mentioned, experienced employees span all age groups, and the knowledge that is retained within them is incredibly valuable to many other businesses looking to expand their workforce.