Channel 4 reveals ageism still afflicting job market
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A Channel 4 Dispatches documentary has revealed that substantial barriers still face older people in Britain’s job market - despite the passage of laws supposedly outlawing such ageism. Called “Too old to work“, the programme transmits on Monday the 9th of February.
Not surprisingly, the investigation finds that being older - even over 45, is a big risk in today’s workplace. Older workers are more likely to lose their jobs, and are then much less likely to secure another one.
To test whether recruitment agencies do discriminate against older candidates, Dispatches carried out an experiment. It pitted two accountants, a 57-year-old father and his 25-year-old daughter, against each other in a contest to see who can achieve the most offers of work via agencies.
Martin Lloyd-Penny has 30 years of accounting experience whilst his daughter Tanne is still a trainee. They registered with the same recruitment agencies and kept video diaries of their progress. They had very different levels of success - no prizes for guessing who got the most job offers
The programme also looks into the impact of forced retirement, interviewing several people who have been forced out of their jobs, and reporting on the broader picture with a specially-commissioned You Gov survey.
Dispaches also investigates whether there is any scientific basis for commonly held beliefs about the effects of ageing. Professor Lorraine Tyler is shown measuring the brain activity of people aged 18 to 90 using neural imaging techniques. Her research contradicts the idea that older brains cannot function as well as younger ones.
The programme also demonstrates, through physical fitness tests, that age is not necessarily an indicator of fitness or productivity.
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February 7th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I am 54 years of Age and working as Senior Administrator in a large facilities company. I hate the job but felt that is what I had to take. I have become a victim to a society which only recognises youth and an unblemished life. At t 50 I was made redundant from a job I loved. I had worked for the company for 16 years.
However that is just part of my journey. I have overcome addiction, sucessfully passed my driving test at 42, went back to evening class at 40, gained an NVQ3, brought up three beautiful children - who are now three beautiful well-educated and good citizens. Now I have so much to offer and there is a burning desire within me to help and advise people, to do something different with my life.
My skills and attributes are more than just Microsoft Word / Excel. I am passionate about people. However I am in a job I hate, just existing, - why because that was all I thought I was worth.
I still have the drive and determination that made me the person I am. I believe that it is time to stop loooking at businesses to change their attitude. I waited 20 years for people to change their attitude regarding mental illness, addiction and child care - which was not in place when I was a Working Mum. No care was provided so I went to night school.
I get angry and frustrated at the fact that the young are given career advice. However when they reach fifty the statistics prove more than half “the young ones” will be out of a job. Then where is the career advice? I don’t see any. I have so many friends of 50 and over who want to utilise their skills, but can’t. Even your documentary will be biased as it does not reflect the reality of being 50 and having to take any job.