News
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Stats again highlight over 45s discrimination
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlight the pressures that face mature age workers in trying to stay in or re-enter the workforce, according to Age Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan.
“The Bureau’s Job Search Experience Australia 2011 figures report that a staggering 18% of unemployed people aged 45 years and over found the main reason they had difficulty finding work was because they were considered too old by employers,” Commissioner Ryan said.
“In a country where we are constantly being told there are skills shortages, this finding is an indictment on the mindset of many people making recruitment decisions,” said Commissioner Ryan.
“It highlights that we have to move urgently away from the discriminatory thinking that 45 means people are ready for the employment scrap heap.”
Ms Ryan said there was absolutely no evidence that most older people – certainly not people aged as young as 45 – fell into the age-based stereotypes such as being slower, less technologically savvy, less flexible or less trainable.
“Instead of reinforcing the damaging stereotypes against mature age workers, employers should see the economic advantages of widening the pool for potential employees to include those older workers who are capable and experienced,” Commissioner Ryan said.
Ms Ryan said we need to celebrate as best practice those forward-thinking employers who demonstrate good, non-discriminatory employment policy and make productive use of all their workforce, regardless of age.
