I’m doing a study on ageism in today’s workforce. Who has been affected by it? How do you think that companies view people of an older age with years of experience? I welcome your feedback.

there is a ironclad perception that older employees are stuck in their ways and don’t want to learn new technologies, new processes, etc. The fact is, we have made a career of learning new technologies, Honestly, we are better at learning than most people.

Yes, this absolutely exists. And when I look around, I find fewer and fewer people my age in IT.

I have multiple times. It actually started early in my career, with being "too young & good looking" as a woman to be an auditor in the bank. And this was told to me by a woman!
then in the tech world, it was "how could you possibly know about tech...and the moment I explained, I studies infor Tech when the internet was first starting in the 80"...then the look was well you are too old to have kept up with ALL the changes in technology...so for me I colour my hair, and make sure look/act young to stay employed.

I'm 54, and this is definitely an issue. I don't care when hiring employees, but damn near everybody else does. I've had a situation where there were >1500 applicants, I was one of ten to get an interview, and when my gray hair walked through the door, it was all over. Never mind that I've been in the industry longer than most of the interviewers have been alive, I'm just too old to be considered. Impossible to prove, yeah, but pretty obvious

I’m 50 and just found last week I have 3 months to find a new job at my employer or they will sever me. I am looking internally, where I’m not concerned about it. I am also looking externally and I don’t yet have an opinion. I went a few applications in but I’m still waiting to hear back. I just did this so it possible they will respond equally possible I’ll hear nothing. If I do get invited to interviews, I’ll share my option when I’m done.

They often value their experience but not the energy required, especially in fast-paced environments.

Had not found it to be an internal problem, but since leaving last job it is definitely an issue for a new hire. The decades of experience do not offset the ageism (it definitely should, but clearly does not) - I rarely (and I mean like almost never) get a callback. I often get a very quick "we're looking at other candidates, thank you" email. That's across every size company from startup to fortune 500 (all of which I have worked in successfully before). I've concluded I only move forward from here in a substantial way by starting my own company (again), so that's my 2025 plan.

The older heads of the company retired, from the Boomer generation, and left the keys to the Millennials, skipping GenX. Those in our 50s are now the old ones, whereas just a few years ago we were still the young ones. Seems any promotion of rank and salary go to those in their 30s, which is great, but they are passing over those of us who know everything, keep the company afloat, teaching the youngsters, yet now make less than those 20 years younger. We didn't know that then, but we know it now!
That said, we take full responsibility for not moving on to other companies, we remained loyal and helped the company through an acquisition, new management, saved our customer base, saved development through retirements and so on. But it does hurt.

Due to my age, I don’t have all of my experience on my resume. Instead I have a short blurb of “other experience.” I believe companies don’t want older folks because: 1. They’ll spend a lot of money training us and then we’ll leave in a few years to retire, 2. We are expensive (not only salary but health insurance) and 3. We can see through the BS and won’t put it up with a lot of it (my perspective.)

On the other hand, we can hit the ground running, we know how to get things done, and those tasks that would take an inexperienced new hire days to do, we get done in hours. I have a degree, multiple patents, industry certifications, and continue to educate myself.

I think we (over 50) scare people.

Some companies value the depth and breadth of experience and are willing top pay for it. My last company laid off 34 of 96 IT staff. The average age before the layoffs was 48.61, the avg age of those laid off was 48.93. I was hired at 67, laid off at 73.

I was just let go at 56 years old, along with 14 other people, the company made good and sure to give me a report of ALL of the ages of those let go so I couldn't scream ageism. This had nothing to do with ageism, it was a known downsize I had been prepared for by my supervisor.

I have not had my grey hair get in the way of my charm and wit. (That I know of)

Agism, Sexism, Racism. It all sucks. Depending on the hiring manager/team it’s always going to be at least one if not all of the above

Turning 60 in a couple weeks, let go this past November after 35 years at the same company.
Our group hired three new employees recently, none of whom were born when I started.
Group manager started several new processes/procedures, but failed to hold training on same, and continually moved the goalposts on the expectations.
Ageism is real, but how to counter?
And who is going to hire me at this time in my life?

Couldn't pinpoint it but after four yrs and counting not sure what it is. I'm self-aware, have common sense and critical thinking. So I always circle back within to ask why, what can I do differently etc.. so again no feedback so wouldn't know.

The metrics businesses use have not evolved. People live longer so naturally they can work longer. Mandatory retirement needs to go and plenty of people have tons to offer in later years.

100% and it sucks. I recently turned 50 and after 25 years in corporate I was finally laid off. Now it’s been a ton of “you’re too experienced” or “you’ll be too expensive” even after applying for jobs at 40% my former salary. I have been a producing director for 10 years, managing teams, being a sr leader, and also producing UX / design deliverables. I’m genuinely scared and considering a career jump, or going solo.

The worst part? Barely realizing I’m 50. I’m super fit, high energy, still curious, and collaborative. Most people think I’m 35-40.

You are just a number...period

By the company giving you a report of the ages of those let go, is an act of ageism in and of itself. It shouldn’t matter your age or if you’re male or female, etc. Can you imagine if everyone was given a list based on gender? Same thing … shouldn’t matter.

Yea but it’s tough to prove

64 and yeah I feel they age me out as they want long term or 10+ yr employees. They either ask your birthday to prove your over 18 or your high school / college date of graduation. I need to work 4 more years for ssi but if able I'd like to work longer. I have great health and experience/abilities but I too have silver hair.... oh and pay....they want to pay me less than $20/hr and doesn't cut it with rent these days. And yes, I don't want to work 2 jobs but may have to find a remote part-time flexible hours job.

I strongly believe I had been a victim of ageism by Google.

I worked for a startup, where I founded, staffed, and led a team, eventually being promoted to an Engineering Manager. I founded it on a shoestring budget, hiring talented juniors and growing them, pivoting underperformers, standing up for my people, providing value… Eventually, I left for personal reasons, and the company was acquired by Google shortly after.

My former team members reached out to me, saying they missed me, so I reapplied, this time to Google. I never got a reply. Ok, perhaps I was not the best candidate, but it was the team I grew, a team I knew inside out, a team full of my ideas and initiatives that Google praised during the acquisition… You’d think they’d at least give me an initial interview.

So I looked up ageism at Google and sure enough, they had a massive settlement in an ageism trial case in Germany in 2019. I was 44 at the time; I really can’t find another explanation for why they ghosted me. Oh well. Their loss :)