NCJ Number
59201
Journal
LABOUR GAZETTE Volume: 77 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 54-58
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS CANADIAN ARTICLE STATES THAT UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE OVER 45 CAN COUNT ON WAITING FOUR TIMES AS LONG FOR A NEW JOB AS WORKERS UNDER 20.
Abstract
RELUCTANCE BY EMPLOYERS IN CANADA TO HIRE PEOPLE OVER 40 AND UNDER 65 YEARS OF AGE HAS RESULTED IN A NEW SOCIAL MINORITY. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN LITTLE RESEARCH DONE ON THIS GROWING PROBLEM. ENACTING LEGISLATION DOES NOT END THE PROBLEM. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON AGE IS FREQUENTLY DIFFICULT TO PROVE. STEREOTYPES STILL ABOUND ABOUT OLDER WORKERS. THEY ARE SAID TO BE LESS PRODUCTIVE, FREQUENTLY ABSENT, INFLEXIBLE, LACKING JOB SKILLS, AND INVOLVED IN MORE ACCIDENTS. PENSION PLANS, BY THEIR VERY ECONOMICS, ALSO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE HIRING OF OLDER WORKERS. FORTY-PLUS OF CANADA, AN EMPLOYMENT AND COUNSELING AGENCY THAT IN 1971 FOUND NEW CAREERS FOR MORE THAN 700 EXECUTIVES OVER 40 YEARS OLD, IS DESCRIBED. THIS ORGANIZATION IS UNDERTAKING A MAJOR RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE ABILITY OF EXECUTIVES OVER 40 TO ADAPT TO CHANGE. THE HEAD OF THE PROJECT STATES THAT LITTLE EMPIRICAL DATA EXIST ABOUT MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT ABILITY TO ADAPT IS NOT NECESSARY LINKED TO CHRONOLOGICAL AGE BUT TO OTHER FACTORS. FINALLY, THE ARTICLE CITES ADVANTAGES THAT THE OLDER WORKER CAN BRING TO A JOB; I.E., MORE STABILITY AND DEPENDABILITY, LOWER JOB TURNOVER. SPECIFIC JOB-HUNTING TACTICS FOR OVER-40 JOB SEEKERS ARE GIVEN.