Title: Ageism In The Workplace: 42 Statistics To Know In 2021 | Built In
Headings: The Cold, Hard Truth About Ageism in the Workplace
The Cold, Hard Truth About Ageism in the Workplace
Bailey Reiners
Ageism in the workplace
Overview of Ageism in the Workplace
The expected age for retirement is 66 years old
75% of the Us population has less than $250,000 saved for retirement
$172,000 is the median savings for Americans in their sixties
Currently, only 10% of people aged 65-69 are employed
On the flip side, 20% of workers are aged 55+
Of that age group, 50% of people aged 55-64 are employed
Not only that, but the percent of workers aged 55+ has doubled
In 1967, the Age discrimination Employment Act was passed
Then in 1998, the Workforce Investment Act was passed
When the ADEA was first passed, between 1,000-5,000 ageism complaints were filed
In 2017 alone, more than 18,000 age discrimination complaints were filed
Age discrimination is not only unethical, it's expensive
Since 1967, more than $91 million has been recovered for age discrimination complaints
Who experiences Ageism in the workplace
58% of workers notice age bias when people enter their 50's
95% of people who experience age Discrimination notice it regularly
People aged 25 and younger are 2x less likely to experience age discrimination
33% of people believe their age is putting their job at risk
7% of people report losing their job due to age discrimination
Even though workers aged 50+ are the most engaged employees
Only 7% of workers later in life notice improved workplace experience
In fact, 12% of people lose out on a promotion due to age bias
15% of workers would not want a boss who was aged 70+
People actually prefer a boss who is 30 than a boss who is 70+
Ageism in the Job Search
About 47% of workers aged 55-64 re-enter employment
13% of retirees are either still working or seeking work
An average of 13% of people are forced to retire
It takes Baby Boomers around 46 weeks to find a new job
76% of people expect their job search to take more than three months due to ageism
Not only that, but more than 3 out of 4 workers view age as an inhibiting factor in receiving a job offer
In fact, 1 in 5 workers aged 40+ report not getting at least one job due to age discrimination
Of companies that have diversity hiring strategies, only 8% include age
Industry can also have an affect on age discrimination
The tech industry in general struggles with ageism
Yet, the age of successful entrepreneurs in some of the highest growth industries is 40
Differences in Ageism in the Workplace
Women are becoming more vocal than ever about age bias
72% of women aged 45-74 believe people experience workplace age discrimination
Whereas 57% of men aged 45-74 believe people experience workplace age discrimination
Workers who are white experience ageism at work less than other groups
And the number of age discrimination complaints by white workers has decreased
Hispanic and Latino workers experience ageism at a slightly higher frequency
77% of workers who are black experience ageism
Also, the number of complaints by black and Asian workers has doubled
Great Companies Need Great People. That's Where We Come In.

Content: More on Diversity + Inclusion 16 Unconscious Bias Examples and How to Avoid Them in the Workplace
Ageism in the Job Search
Image via Shutterstock
About 47% of workers aged 55-64 re-enter employment
Nearly half of people aged 55-64 exit and re-enter the workforce during that age period. 13% of retirees are either still working or seeking work
Of the people who do retire, 13% of them continue working to some degree or are actively looking for work. An average of 13% of people are forced to retire
Between 1998-2014, an average of 13% of older employees were forced into retirement. It takes Baby Boomers around 46 weeks to find a new job
It takes Baby Boomers approximately 46 weeks to find a new job. It takes the average person 43 days to find, interview for and start a new job. Baby Boomers ( people born between 1946 and 1964), on the other hand, can expect the same process to take 46 weeks. Our most experienced workers spend nearly a full year searching for a job. How much sense does that make? 76% of people expect their job search to take more than three months due to ageism
The majority of people believe it will take them longer (more than three months) to find a job because of age bias. Not only that, but more than 3 out of 4 workers view age as an inhibiting factor in receiving a job offer
Age bias is thought to not only contribute to how long it takes employees to find a job, but it is thought to prevent people from getting jobs, according to 3 of 4 workers.