Are we all too old after 45?

The employment of seniors is undergoing major changes.

Age is a determining factor in companies. It can affect hiring, departures, job assignments, and promotions. But it is also a criterion for discrimination. Yet, paradoxically, the job market is getting older. This might be good news, as seniors contribute significantly to a company. Here’s an overview of the situation.

We often think of a senior as someone older than ourselves. In reality, one is considered a senior in society starting at around 45-50 years old. Yes, even if it hurts a bit. Elon Musk promises us: One day, humans will be immortal. But for now, we continue to age. In our “modern” society, aging individuals are not always well regarded.

Finding work after 45 isn’t easy

It’s not easy to find work when you’re over 45, as perceptions can sometimes be biased and negative. In fact, there are three intertwined perceptions at play:

• The perception that seniors have of themselves. Sometimes, after searching for a job for some time, they do not have a positive self-image and have lost confidence in themselves.
• The perception that the job market and employers have of these “older” individuals, who are seen as costly, more likely to be sick, and potentially conservative. Let’s not forget the prejudices regarding adaptability: “If we hire someone who has worked for 20 years in a company, won’t they have too many habits they can’t let go of?” And there’s the idea that “the old” are, at best, not keen on new technologies and, at worst, technophobic.
• Finally, there’s the perception that colleagues have of seniors. They may be seen as less able to understand new concepts, slower in their work, outdated, and wanting to continue living in a society that no longer exists.

What is ageism?

“One day, I went to a Brussels-based startup in the digital sector to submit my CV. In addition to my university degrees, I had several training sessions on social media use, digital tools, etc. I was 52 years old. When the manager arrived, he told me that no one would want to work with their mother here. What a slap in the face!” explains Nathalie, now an independent consultant.

The experience Nathalie faced has a name: ageism. It can be defined as all forms of discrimination and contempt based on age. Like racism, it is illegal. But, unfortunately, it’s extremely prevalent. In France, it is even the primary criterion for discrimination in hiring.

No one can be denied a job because of their age, except in very rare exceptions that must be “legitimate, appropriate, and reasonable.” For instance, seeking a model over 45 years old to promote an anti-aging cream is accepted. Allowing those under 26 to benefit from a “First Job Contract” to cost less for their employer is justified. This is because people under 26 are overrepresented among job seekers. No one can be denied access to training, a raise, or a promotion based on their age.

Ageism can sometimes lurk where we least expect it. Dutch editorialist Marianne Zwagerman sparked a genuine societal debate in the Netherlands in April 2020 when she tweeted about the Covid-19 pandemic and the elderly: “Het dorre hout wordt gekapt” (“The dry wood is cut”), comparing elderly people to useless wood.

The reality of the job market

“Since 2020, for the first time in history, there are more people over 65 than there are under 5 in the world. More grandparents than grandchildren,” writes Camilla Cavendish in Extra Time: Ten Lessons for an Ageing World. This reality will have a concrete and lasting impact on the world of work in Western countries.

The reality is that seniors are increasingly likely to be hired today compared to yesterday. Bart Buysse (President of FEVIA, the Federation of the Food Industry) highlighted this to the Roularta Group by pointing to other figures: “In 2015-2016, those aged 50 and over represented 10% of all new hires, compared to 6-7% in 2007-2008. By 2017, we were around 11%.”

Advantages of employing older workers

The benefits of working with seniors are numerous and real.

• First of all, a worker over 45 years old tends to be more calm, more composed, and more serene, as they possess experience and wisdom. They can bring stability to a team, which is a valuable soft skill.
• Generally, they also possess real expertise in their field. Having worked for 20 years in a sector means holding a wealth of knowledge.
• This knowledge can be transmitted to the new generation, either through daily collaborative work or in an organized manner through mentoring.
• A senior also has an important asset: a network of contacts that they can bring to their employer.
• Seniors also represent a form of stability; only 5% of older workers actively seek other employment, which is three times less than workers under 45 (Source: SDWorx 2021 “A Worker’s Journey” survey).
• Lastly, hiring someone over 55 can also bring a financial advantage to the company. In Belgium, there are several options available, such as reduced salary costs or lower employer contributions.

Breaking down prejudices

• No, seniors are not sick more often. For short-term absences (less than a month), seniors actually perform better than people in their thirties. For longer absences, older individuals are indeed more affected.
• No, they are not less motivated. In fact, it could be argued that the opposite is true. With rare exceptions, someone who finds a job after a challenging period is likely to give their all, as they appreciate the opportunity.
• No, one does not become passive after 50. In fact, Americans aged 55 to 65 are 65% more likely to start a business than those aged 20-34!
  (Source: https://www.welcometothejungle.com/fr/articles/must-read-10-lessons-ageing-world)
• No, we are not “old” at 45-50. As Coco Chanel wisely said: “No one is young after forty, but one can be irresistible at any age.” This is true in the workplace as well!

Japan, the world champion of senior employment

Japan is aging. 28% of its population is 65 or older. In this context, paying pensions is becoming increasingly complex.  Many Japanese have decided to continue working beyond the legal retirement age. Therefore, Japan has the highest employment rate of seniors aged 65 and over in the world. In 2017, the employment rate for those aged 65-69 was 54.8% for men and 35% for women.

Faced with these challenges, large companies are raising or even eliminating the retirement age. This is the case for Nojima (appliance store), which has abolished the previous activity age limit of… 80 years. 

Age is a flexible concept

Good news: there are several types of ages, making age a flexible concept.

There’s, firstly, chronological age, which is the age on our ID defined by our date of birth. Then there’s biological age, which is how old we appear or how our bodies feel. There’s also sociological age, which is the categorization by society (teenager, senior citizen, etc.), and finally, there’s subjective age—the age we feel in our minds.  With medical advancements, age is also evolving objectively. For example, in the United States, an overwhelming majority (75%) of people aged 60 to 75 have no cognitive or physical impairments.

Statistic: 16%

Only 16% of employers surveyed by SD Worx do not want to hire those over 50.

Source: SDWorx among 732 SME executives.