Newsnight viewers describe age bias and retraining barriers for over-50s

Viewers have described age discrimination and retraining difficulties faced by over-50s looking for work after a report on the issue drew a large response. Two older jobseekers gave personal accounts of repeated rejection and employer attitudes.

Adrian, who was made redundant a couple of years ago after 45 years working in computing, said he had applied for roughly 2,000 roles. He believed he was capable of making a success of them but got no job. He said there is a presumption that older workers are stuck in their ways and lethargic.

Andy, 63, said he worked until Covid and has been looking for a job ever since. He said employer feedback was: 'we're looking for an enthusiastic young person'. He replied that he was 'an enthusiastic old person with experience'. He said he is capable of working and contributing to the UK economy but has been 'totally de-incentivised'.

The discussion then turned to retraining. Business figure Martin Sorrell said training, retraining, education and older apprenticeships are critical. He warned that technology, AI and quantum computing will make the problem bigger. Asked whether people should retrain themselves, he said it is up to the state. Steve Reed agreed. He said his father's factory closed in the 1980s and his father and uncles were not supported to retrain, so many never worked again. He said friends in publishing in their 50s are in a similar position. He called for a mechanism to help people retrain for jobs where there are vacancies. He noted that individual learning accounts failed 20 years ago because the technology was not robust, and said it may be time to revisit the idea. Singapore's model, he said, helps reskill workers at whatever age they lose a job.

The panel also discussed ageism. One participant said there is prejudice towards younger people as opposed to older people because they are cheaper, and experience is not counted. The discussion heard a call for advice to businesses on why more experienced workers are a good part of the workplace mix.

Another panellist, Maureen, said the UK's high savings picture is more fragile than it looks. She said people's savings are often based on forecasts of the pensions triple lock and rising house prices. More people will need to go back into the workforce later because their savings will not stretch as far as they thought. Some people took early retirement during the pandemic after being furloughed, believing they could live off their nest eggs. She said the difficulty older people face getting back into work shows that fragility, and that the triple lock will become a bigger talking point.

The item did not offer new official figures. It put a policy question to the panel about how the state and employers should help experienced workers retrain and find work as technology changes jobs and savings prove less secure than expected.