Older Americans More Likely to Cite Workplace Discrimination

A survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 60 percent of adults 60 and over say older U.S. workers are "always" or "often" discriminated against, as do 43 percent of adults younger than 45, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune . Federal law prohibits age discrimination in employment, but 66 percent of adults 60 and older — and 65 percent of those between 45 and 59 — think age is against them when seeking work. Ten percent of those 60 and over and about 20 percent of those in the 45 to 59 category say their age is the reason for being passed over for a raise, promotion, or opportunity to get ahead. In contrast, younger adults are more likely to believe their age gives them a competitive edge. Nearly 50 percent of respondents under 30 and about 33 percent of those 30 to 44 consider their age an advantage. Looking at gender, 75 percent of women older than 45 cite ageism as a problem when seeking employment, versus 65 percent of older men. "For women, we see an early onset of cases of age discrimination, and the discrimination is much more severe," notes Tulane University Professor Patrick Button. "I think there is a lot of sexism in aging."