Ageism affects low‑educated women the most

Older people are not only those over the age of 65, the term covers a broader age range. When the competence and experience of older workers are not utilized in the labor market, it affects both individuals and society.

Age discrimination is a priority area in research policy. Forte’s national program for work‑life research includes a strengthened focus on the conditions that enable older people to remain in the workforce longer.

However, conclusions about age discrimination can already be drawn from the recently completed EIWO research program at Linköping University, funded by Forte.

Difficult to find new employment after unemployment

One of the studies, which examines exclusion and inequality in the later stages of working life, investigated how age affects the chances of finding a new job after becoming unemployed. Getting a new job while still employed can be challenging enough for older workers, but the biggest obstacle arises when trying to re-enter the labor market after a break.

– After the age of 60, the chances drop significantly, unless you have high qualifications or are applying in fields with strong demand,” says Andreas Motel-Klingebiel, professor of ageing and later life at Linköping University.

At age 64, the likelihood of being in paid employment is 45 percent compared with 78 percent in the early 50s.

Higher age generally reduces opportunities, but the relationship is complex. Age, qualifications, sector, migration background, and gender interact to shape the chances of finding new employment. People with higher qualifications and in occupations with higher skill requirements tend to have better prospects, especially in sectors where the demand for skilled labor remains strong.