Age discrimination continues to create barriers to hiring, even though older job seekers are less willing to disclose age-related information.

The demand for skilled workers provides the workforce with the flexibility and growth opportunities they desire. But for some workers aged 50+, the job search or interview process can hinder their ability to find work.

Nearly one in six adults working or looking for work (14%) report being turned down for a job they applied for in the past two years because of their age.
The results remain consistent among job seekers, with half reporting that they have been asked by an employer to provide their date of birth during an application or interview.

Age discrimination persists in the workplace. Research shows that nearly two in three adults aged 50+ in the workforce (64%) believe that older workers face age discrimination in the workplace today. And among those, nearly all (90%) believe that age discrimination against older workers is common in the workplace. Also, just over one in ten continue to report being passed over for a promotion or opportunity to advance because of their age.

Interestingly, the percentage of older adults in the workforce who report that in the past two years they have heard negative comments in the workplace about either the age of an older coworker or their own age has decreased since the first wave.

Most turn to friends or family when experiencing age discrimination. One in five adults 50+ (21%) report having experienced age discrimination since turning 40. Respondents are more likely to talk to friends or family than to a co-worker, supervisor or HR when experiencing age discrimination. Among those 50+ who were not hired for a job because of their age, respondents were more than three times more likely to talk to a friend or family member (25%) than to a co-worker (7%) or supervisor (3%). For those who took no action (i.e., did not talk to anyone or file a formal complaint), the main reason was that they did not believe it would make a difference.

The survey reveals strong support for change, with more than four in five adults aged 50+ (86%) agreeing that older Americans should be protected from age discrimination. Additionally, nine in ten (90%) support (with nearly half saying they strongly support) efforts to strengthen the nation’s age discrimination laws.