Overcoming age bias in recruitment

In the current economic climate, both older and younger individuals face even greater difficulties than usual in obtaining or changing jobs. Dianne Bown-Wilson comments on how improvements to the recruitment process might help cut down on age discrimination.
 

Age discrimination in employee recruitment continues to be rife despite legislation which should by now have resulted in a level playing field for all. Recent statistics reveal the shocking truth that amongst the unemployed, only one in five of those aged over 50 is likely to get a job within two years. An already bad situation has worsened recently with unemployment rising by more than 16% amongst the over 50s, compared to 7% in the 25-49 year age group

An increasing amount of publicity is being given to the problems that employers are likely to create for themselves through an over-reliance on Generation X and Y employees - the most significant of which is the erosion of organisational stability, experience and knowledge and possible customer alienation.