Employer Perceptions of Older Workers: 2019 Survey Results

The brief’s key findings are:

• Working longer is the key to a more secure retirement, but are employers willing to hire and retain older workers?
• A recent survey, which does not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, asked employers their views of professional and support/production workers ages 55 and over.
• The results show that, compared to younger workers, employers view older workers as more costly but also more productive and, on balance, at least as attractive.
• Compared to a similar survey in 2006, the latest findings show a substantial improvement in employer perceptions of older support/production workers.
• While survey responses do not necessarily correspond to employer behavior, older managers rate older workers more highly, a promising sign in an aging population.