By 2028, one-quarter of the U.S. workforce will be age 55 or older, according to a report by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. While discriminating against older workers is both illegal and unethical, it still happens. Many companies remain dead-set against hiring someone in their 50s or 60s despite equal opportunity and DEI policies, and potential talent shortages are projected to lead to more than 85 million unfilled jobs by 2030.
And yet, 87% of employers consider their companies to be “age-friendly” by offering opportunities, work arrangements, training and tools needed for employees of all ages to succeed in their current roles. In sharp contrast, only 69% of workers consider their employers to be age-friendly. This disconnect is consistent across companies of all sizes, per a recent report from the Transamerica Institute, "Workplace Transformations: Employer Business Practices and Benefit Offerings." The Transamerica Institute is a non-profit foundation that provides research and education on issues relating to retirement and aging.
