There’s a lot of talk about gender bias, racial bias, and culture bias at work, and each are important for many reasons. But perhaps one of the biggest and most problematic types of bias we face is the bias of age: we often evaluate people based on their age, and this is now becoming a major challenge in the workplace.
The Case for Hiring Older Workers
Many companies consider age a competitive disadvantage. Here’s why they’re wrong.
September 26, 2019
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Summary.
In the U.S., job vacancies have outnumbered job applicants since 2018. This is largely a result of baby boomers reaching retirement at a rate faster than millennials are able to step into their place. To continue to grow our economy, companies need to take action by bringing older people back to work and giving them meaningful, important jobs. This may seem simple, but age bias is a serious hurdle. Many companies prioritize hiring cheaper, younger workers who they believe are more valuable than someone more expensive with more expertise. Contrary to popular belief, however, older, more tenured people are more successful entrepreneurs. Those over the age of 40 are three times more likely to create successful companies as a result of their patient, collaborative natures, and their lack of have a “need to prove myself” attitude. Companies that want to see our economy flourish need to take action and give them more opportunities.