Employers are breaking the law by setting an age limit on job applicants
Almost a third of Australian employers are reluctant to hire job applicants beyond a certain age, according to a government survey.
For seven in 10 companies, the cut-off age for candidates is 50 – even though setting an age limit on job applicants is against the law in Australia.
While respondents are hesitant to recruit older workers, the majority recognise that the experience (75%) and professional knowledge (68%) that more seasoned employees bring to the table give their companies an advantage.
Among those who hire older employees, 32% said they have not faced any major roadblocks to hiring more experienced staff, the Australian Human Rights Commission found.
However, 28% said a shortage of older talent has made it difficult for their organisation to support an age-diverse workforce.
Other concerns employers have when recruiting older staff include:
- Older employees’ perceived lack of technological skills – 20%
- Roles being too physically demanding for older employees – 17%
- Older employees’ salary expectations being too high – 16%
- Older employees not fitting into the company culture – 14%
“As we live longer and healthier lives, it is crucial for people to be able to contribute through the paid workforce for financial reasons and because such engagement contributes to a sense of meaning or purpose,” said Dr. Kay Patterson, age discrimination commissioner of the human rights commission.
