Jobs Report: When Will Things Get Better For Older Workers Who've Lost Their Jobs?

Even before the Great Recession, older workers were more likely than younger ones to be unemployed for six months or longer, but their prospects have worsened. While roughly a quarter of older jobless people passed the six-month mark in 2007, in 2011 more than half did, according to new report by the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. And for 2011, 4 in 10 older workers were unemployed for a full year, which is still the case, according to the latest data for February.

Job ads starkly reveal discrimination by employment status, with wording specifying that applicants must be currently employed. "Because this kind of discrimination is more likely to affect those who have been out of work for the longest amount of time, older workers are more likely to be its victims," the National Employment Law Project report states.

Henrys wrote:carlch,
I'm feeling the same way. I have been in the I.T. field doing many things and always had stability. My contract ended in April of 2011 and have had a hard time even getting interviews. I strongly believe it's because I'm approaching 50 and companies are wanting younger people. Very scary and stressful.

This is Charlotte, NC where the DNC is coming.. Unemployment is still around 10 percent here.

lam wrote:I am 50 nearly 51 and have been unemployed for 4 very long years. I have not given up looking for work and have manged to interview one a month for the last 6 months. However, I am not being hired and I know that it's because of my age and how long I have not worked. Which to me is a bunch of crap!!!!! I heard about the jobs report and pretty much moved on from there. Until these crap employers learn where loyalty and responsibility is meaning in the older worker nothing will change for us!!