People Management report from Thursday 13th February 2020.

Age is the “number one barrier” to job opportunities in the UK, above gender, ethnicity or educational background, according to research by LinkedIn.

The survey, which polled more than 2,000 individuals in the UK as part of a wider global study, found many in the UK believed their age to be problematic when looking for a more stable job or changing career.

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents believed their age was a barrier in the job market, compared to 7 per cent who thought their level of educational attainment prevented them from getting ahead. Just 5 per cent thought gender was a barrier, and 4 per cent cited ethnicity.
Older workers were more likely to cite age as an issue, with nearly half (45 per cent) of those aged 55 to 65, and 26 per cent aged 39 to 54, reporting they thought their age was a barrier to progressing their careers.

And two-thirds said the age barrier was very difficult to overcome: the majority (84 per cent) said working hard was the key to “getting ahead in life”, while 78 per cent cited willingness to embrace change.

Emily Andrews, senior evidence manager at the Centre for Ageing Better, said the figures showed ageism remains a problem in the UK jobs market, and said unless employers take action, they will miss out on the skills and experience older workers can bring.

Older workers aren’t just the workforce of the future, they’re the workforce of the present – so employers who don’t adjust to the ageing workforce are likely to face skill shortages.

For the full and original article visit People Management website.