Employers prefer youth to experience

3 out of 4 employers say age is a major factor when recruiting

New research of UK personnel managers reveals 3 out of 4 employers see age as a major factor when looking to fill a job, even though they may not overtly discriminate in their recruitment job advertising.

UK employers are ignoring a large contingency of potential workers with only one in twenty five (4%) organisations having a member of staff aged 65 .

This is despite the fact that there will be two million less 25-34 year olds by 2006, and two million more over 50s in the workforce within twenty years.

According to Fish4jobs ignoring older workers is bad for business. ìWith the proportion of under 35year olds declining in the workplace, itís impractical for employers to gear their hiring policies exclusively towards the young,î says Fish4jobs director Simon Devitt.

ìMany organisations that actively encourage the over 50s to apply for positions have found that they are a real asset bringing years of experience to the job. Mature employees may have better interpersonal skills and can be more settled and reliable, which allow them to excel in customer facing roles.î

However, Fish4jobsí research reveals most companies have yet to appreciate the positive benefits of having older employees. Only one in five (21%) businesses practice age positive employment policies to ensure a balanced workforce.

While only 9% of companies have openly listed age requirements on job advertisements, Fish4jobsí research shows that unofficial age discrimination is widespread.

Six in ten (59%) employers would be suspicious if someone didnít list their age on their CV and the same number (59%) who think it is important for candidates to put down their date of birth, something which is no longer standard practice in the United States.

Four in ten (43%) HR managers are even personally aware of a case of ëageismí where someone was denied a job because they were too old.

Despite the abolition of many final salary pension schemes, forcing many over 60s to delay their retirement plans, plus Government proposals to raise the retirement age to 70, most companies (73%) still have a mandatory retirement age. Of those that do have compulsory retirement, 87% make workers retire at 65 and 13% have a retirement age of 60.

Finally, with the UK having to fall in line with European Union age discrimination legislation by 2006, Fish4jobs says that it is imperative UK employers become more open to hiring older workers.

ìWithin the next few years it will be much easier for workers to bring age discrimination cases before an industrial tribunal,î says Simon Devitt. ìNot only do employers need to eliminate any traces of ageism from their recruitment practices, itís also important that they publish guidelines which prove that all applicants are treated equally, regardless of age.î