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The AARP--the gigantic, powerful political lobby that represents the interests of senior citizens--would like everyone to believe that old people are being hit hardest by unemployment during the recession. While the recession certainly hasn't been easy on anybody, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that younger workers may in fact be faring the worst.
Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the unemployment rate for 25- to 34-year-olds has more than doubled from 4.8 percent to 10.5 percent. Workers age 25 to 34 have the highest rate of unemployment of all age groups--higher than the national average of 9.4 percent. 25- to 34-year-olds have experienced the most job losses of all age groups--4.5 million--since May 2008. Today, 3.5 million people between the ages 25 and 34 are unemployed. (For more evidence of high unemployment among younger workers, see Unemployment Hammers Younger Workers.)
Until I uncovered those data points from the BLS, I had always assumed that older workers would bear the brunt of corporate layoffs. My rationale for that assumption? Older workers have more experience. Therefore, they command higher salaries than younger workers. So when a company is looking to cut costs by downsizing, it goes after the people who earn a lot of money (read: older professionals.)
Some organizations may indeed be replacing older, more experienced workers with younger, cheaper labor during this recession. But the numbers from the BLS indicate otherwise. At 6.8 percent and 6.7 percent respectively, the unemployment rates for workers age 45 to 54 and for workers 55 and up is considerably lower than it is for 25- to 34-year-olds.
All of these statistics make me wonder if some kind of reverse age discrimination against younger workers is taking place. Age discrimination is often viewed as an old person's issue, but it affects young people, too, albeit in a different manner. Young people may not be fairly compensated for their skills or treated with respect and credibility because of their age. What's more, younger workers aren't protected by laws against age discrimination, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
Why do you think unemployment is so disproportionately high for younger workers? Do you think they're unfairly targeted for layoffs? If so, why?
When I was recruiting, I did a lot of reading on this topic. What I learned was that the only years workers are not affected by wage discrimination is between 35 and 40!
I've seen a couple different reasons pop up "unofficially":
-Younger people are more flexible with job prospects, they can find something else quickly
-Young single people aren't providing for their families
-Young workers can go back to the bank of mom and dad if times are too hard
-The young people were the newest hires, and thus the first to go
-We can always get young, cheap talent, but we've already invested so much in these more experienced employees
The hard part is that those older workers who did get laid off took those flexible positions traditionally for younger workers...everything from grocery check outs and pizza delivery, to file clerks and baristas.
The 24 to 25 worker range could be for a variety of reasons, types of jobs which are disappearing, as mentioned above, some of the jobs held traditionally by the 24 to 34 year olds, construction for instance, is in a huge decline and employs a large number of 24 to 35 year olds both unskilled and skilled.It's true as well that a lot of older workers are now taking positions usually considered the territory of youth, the supermarket cashier and so forth, but they are not exactly career jobs.
We also have a ton of college students entering the workforce every year, it is only par for the course that in this economy finding a job when no new jobs are available wouldn't be easy, in many cases due to the economy and no new hires they'd have to let go of an older worker in order to hire I younger worker, so I don't see discrimination as a general trend.
As one of those 3.5 million currently unemployed, I've been directly affected by the trimming of young workers in offices everywhere. The #1 reason I've heard, and have been subjected to on job interviews, is that I don't have enough experience to be a valued employee at the company. While I vehemently agree, and always do what I can to highlight my willingness and penchant for quick learning, in the long run, employers want someone who won't waste time or money for additional training. Those in the middle workforce don't require this training, and older workers applying for jobs bring many skills to the table a young worker just a few years out of college may not be able to offer.
Emily: Where are these quickly found job prospects? I've found as time goes on that job prospects are harder and harder to come by, no matter what age group an individual may fall into. Also: just because young, single workers don't have a family doesn't mean that they don't have to provide for themselves. I have bills, rent, and car payments to make just like the next guy. Additionally, single workers don't have a spouse to help support them through a job loss either. Mom and Dad might be an alternative for some, but not for all. These shouldn't be factors when considering who to lay off and who to keep on staff.
Oops, meant that I vehemently "disagree."
Should have proofread more carefully.
Nope-I totally agree.
As a 'young' person who has a job, it isn't always that great. I was talked down to my first year on the job. I actually had a co-worker ask me if I knew how to use Microsoft Word...(duh!)
Even today with the people who are over 40 that I haven't worked with directly, they still treat my like I haven't learned anything.
It's frustrating, its ridiculous. In the conversations I've had with my boss, she told me I just needed to ignore it and do my job, which I do agree. But I don't want to WAIT for it to go away.
I feel I've conquered this discrimination in the workplace; I've been able to complete my projects on time, with little help from others in the office (I do most of my work alone). And whenever someone says something to me that I don't think they would say to someone who was older, I do give them a little attitude in my responses. I don't think they realize what they're doing all the time-its like its automatic, ya know, when you just happen to yell at an older person thinking they can't hear you... :)
Some of the comments I've heard:
"Hey, chief" (Seriously, I'm not 5)
"You'll learn when you get older" (This was my aunt referring to my democratic stance)
"Maybe you aren't aware of what you should do..." (regarding something I do everyday that I hadn't been able to complete)
"Meat is good for you!" (when I wasn't eating meat..this is the rudest comment I've ever received. Basically, because I was eating veggies, my lunch was awful...)
..Just a sneak peak!
I hope the unemployed young professional find a company that can recognize their value!
@Sarah, I'm not saying that those reasons are right...or even legal. They're rationalizations for people making bad decisions.
Trust me, the short end of the stick isn't fun, even if it comes with "Rising Star" printed in gold paint.
Hi Meridith:
I really enjoyed reading your post! I blog in Des Moines about the trials and tribulations about being unemployed. http://unemployedindesmoines.blogspot.com. I was wondering if I could post this post to my blog in the coming days? If so, please email me a short intro/bio. suzanne_hull@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
Timely article. The market for Gen Y and recent grads is extremely tight and as competitive as I've seen in my recruiting career.
Liza,
I agree with you completely. As the youngest person on staff (at 31) I too have been asked similar questions that you mentioned (not about the meat, though, wow!) even though my co-workers know I have extensive professional training and education and have held jobs of higher authority before. It's incredible frustrating to know, even if it is not outright, that you are being discounted because of your age.
As someone who runs workshops for older workers, I am well aware that many older workers are convinced that they are at a great disadvantage because of their age. Your point is an important one, and the statistics you present are powerful. They support the observation made by a 24-year-old I know, who explained that many of his friends were being laid off, noting that from the company's standpoint it made sense to keep the workers with more skills.
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