Why Are Older Workers at Greater Risk of Displacement?

The brief’s key findings are:

• Older workers are now as vulnerable to layoffs as younger workers, because: their job tenure has declined, eroding the traditional protection afforded by seniority; and the risk of layoffs in manufacturing has risen, particularly for older workers.

• The heightened vulnerability of older workers is a serious concern, because unemployed older workers have a hard time finding a new job.