Recruiters are still not giving the over-45s in Australia a fair go.   :(

IN THE United States, the race for the Republican presidential nomination is down to four candidates - the oldest is 76, the favourite is 64, only one is under 60. In Australia, they'd probably all be on the scrapheap.   :-?

Whatever you say or think about Americans, they value experience, and not only in high office. It's in contrast to this country where we are too quick to write off anyone who's over 50. Prime Minister Julia Gillard should understand this better than most - she reached the milestone last September. Maybe that's her problem.

I first realised the difference in the attitudes of the two countries when I worked in New York in the late '90s. I was in my early 40s when I went there, believing that qualified me to be considered an experienced executive. Instead, when I arrived, I very quickly realised I was a relative junior.


Throughout the organisation for which I worked, men and women in their late 50s and 60s ran major components of the business. Their experience was highly prized and well rewarded.

The contrast in the employment attitudes of Australia and the US keeps coming back to me as I encounter increasing numbers of what the statisticians call mature-age workers (45-plus) struggling to find full-time work in professions they've worked at most of their adult lives.   :(

There was the human resources manager who'd had three interviews in a week and, yet again, had failed to secure any of the positions on offer; the property investment analyst who hadn't worked meaningfully for more than a year and didn't expect to for at least another; the entertainment industry executive made redundant just before Christmas 2010 and still looking unsuccessfully a year later; and the marketing executive who'd pretty much decided he had to change career course if he was ever going to work again. All these men were in their 50s. What a waste. In each case they were highly talented, motivated and possessed enormous experience. Not only that, each was free to put in the hours with which young parents sometimes struggle. They even had realistic salary expectations, each being financially secure, at least for the foreseeable future.   :-?

But none of it mattered. Interviews with headhunters came and went and none of them had scored a job offer. A couple had made it down to the last two or three applicants only to fall at the final hurdle. Inevitably it had gone to a younger applicant. Of course, it's not just men. On Friday, during a stint on ABC radio, a woman told me that despite a degree, two post-grad qualifications and a career in the public service she was now working in a nursery and picking cherries after losing her contracted position.   :(

This week's unemployment figures showed the economy shed almost 30,000 jobs in December, capping the worst year for employment in two decades. We'll know more about the plight of older workers when more detailed figures are released by the ABS next week. These will show the numbers of mature workers who no longer participate in the workforce - perhaps because they've given up looking for jobs and have turned to their super or pensions - as well as those who are underemployed. The latter group are people who would do more work if they could, including those older workers who've taken lesser jobs, part-time work, contracting or consulting when pushed out of full-time roles. It's a pretty fair bet those figures will show the plight of mature-age workers is worsening.   :(

Of course, some of this is due to the economic cycle, but there's little doubt a large chunk of the problem comes down to simple blind prejudice. In a country that's ageing - the proportion of the Australian population 65 years and over is likely to nearly double between 2007 and 2056, with the proportion of people over 85 predicted to almost quadruple - recruiters are turning their backs on older workers.

They don't do it overtly because that would be illegal. Instead, older workers are screened out early by employers who've told recruiters they don't want anyone over 40. Or, they place job ads that use code words for ''young'', such as ''innovative'', ''dynamic'' and ''creative''.   :(

The problem was highlighted in a 2010 report prepared by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Entitled Age Discrimination: Exposing the Hidden Barrier for Mature Age Workers, it warned that while there are strong messages from the government that people should be working to at least 67 years of age, people over 45 can face invisible and accepted barriers to their recruitment and continued employment. White collar, blue collar, it's all the same.

''Quite apart from the impacts of serious financial stress, the loss of sense of self and the perceived status people gain from being in quality paid work has been linked to inactivity, cognitive decline, depression and social isolation,'' the report said.

Putting workers on the scrapheap at 50 is something we can't afford as a society. We risk having a meaningful working life of just 30 years and half a century outside employment, given current life expectancies. The system's not working.   :(

Bruce Guthrie is a former editor of The Age, The Sunday Age and Herald Sun.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/we-need-to-grow-up-and-value-our-older-workers-20120121-1qba2.html#ixzz1kA8bHdVl

The problem was highlighted in a 2010 report prepared by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Entitled Age Discrimination: Exposing the Hidden Barrier for Mature Age Workers, it warned that while there are strong messages from the government that people should be working to at least 67 years of age, people over 45 can face invisible and accepted barriers to their recruitment and continued employment. White collar, blue collar, it's all the same. :(

They should be working until they are 67 so they say.  Yet they are thrown on the scrapheap, when they get to 50.  They are to old  be working according to employers.  Yet to young for retirement.  These people are the meat in the sandwich.  What a stupid idea, putting the pension age up from 65 to 67 was.   :( 

yes but at least at the age of 50 they do have the means and assets to Retire

hey crook another load of jobs going offshore..

but I am not concerned Conroy was on Today this morning talking about thousands of jobs they are creating....he didnt say where lets hope he was talking Sydney and Adelaide

cods wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2012 at 8:43am:

hey crook another load of jobs going offshore.. but I am not concerned Conroy was on Today this morning talking about thousands of jobs they are creating....he didnt say where lets hope he was talking Sydney and Adelaide

I'd like to defend the Honourable Senator Conroy. He was misquoted. What he did say is that the government is creating thousands of jobless Australians each year.

I work a processing plant. Sunrice Australia (rare to see 'happy' workers, good management, etc). After being 'shafted' by an American company as a Chicken Sexer Trainee (potential to earn $1,000 a day!) once they got rid of the Australian Chicken Sexing Association Contractors. They now hire Koreans via Back(door)Packer visas for lesser wages of course.

My back isn't coping with the processing work, so at 40+, I'm working towards running my own show, like 'own business' etc. Because lets face it - there isn't really any work for someone that is 40+, bad-back, un-edu-ma-cated/un-skilled, etc ...out there.

Its my own fault, I should have studied harder at school, etc, etc. I blame no-one but myself. Still, I always considered myself a 'late-bloomer' (born a month late too ...like a fine wine ;)).

I would think people after 40+ should have learned at least 'something' to take more control of their lives and not be so 'dependant' or rely upon a Pension.
Maybe those that do 'deserve' to suffer? ;)

Think that's scary, have a look at the movie LOGAN'S RUN where they top you at 30....Now that's scary!

Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :)

wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 2:36pm:

Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :)

The right would just love to bring that into law....

red baron wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 1:42pm:

Think that's scary, have a look at the movie LOGAN'S RUN where they top you at 30....Now that's scary!

Or read the book....it's 21 in that...

I'd also recommend an old movie called Z.P.G...

Both have a common theme....population control in the cities, while outside the cities are massive empty spaces....

Kat wrote on Feb 4^th, 2012 at 2:42pm:

wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law....

LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control....

gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 11:45am:

Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control....

Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that
certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'.

Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan.......

Kat wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 4:39pm:

gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 11:45am: Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control.... Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'. Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan.......

IT's also "the left" who are so keen in bring in foreigners, supposedly to do 'the jobs that australians won't do'. I wonder if Australians 50+ would at least like a chance to do those jobs?

The "right' bogey man has been dead for decades.  You leftists backed the wrong pony, and now we're all paying the price.  Don't say i didn't warn you.

... wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 4:48pm:

Kat wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 4:39pm: gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 11:45am: Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control.... Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'. Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan....... IT's also "the left" who are so keen in bring in foreigners, supposedly to do 'the jobs that australians won't do'. I wonder if Australians 50+ would at least like a chance to do those jobs? The "right' bogey man has been dead for decades.  You leftists backed the wrong pony, and now we're all paying the price.  Don't say i didn't warn you.

More of a centrist, actually, and no, I didn't vote Labor.

So, I enter a plea of 'Not Guilty'.

THta was really intended as a more of an 'open letter to lefties' than targetted at you specifically.

But are you REALLY not guilty? Are any of us? 

To imagine a new way of doing you must first reject old notions of thinking and being.  Close you heart and your mind to the propaganda and the lies of the political and corporate class. 8-)

Kat wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 4:39pm:

gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 11:45am: Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control.... Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'. Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan.......

It's sad that it seems to be the left that want to arrange the idea of no people
It's the left that want to  use the idea of no reproduction

gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 5:26pm:

Kat wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 4:39pm: gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 11:45am: Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control.... Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'. Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan....... It's sad that it seems to be the left that want to arrange the idea of no people It's the left that want to  use the idea of no reproduction

The left have long been "champions" of abortion.  Even child murder can sound noble if you dress it up as "pro-choice".

... wrote on Feb 6^th, 2012 at 4:48pm:

Kat wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 4:39pm: gizmo_2655 wrote on Feb 6th, 2012 at 11:45am: Kat wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:42pm: wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 2:36pm: Yes a very good movie.  Also have a look at the movie Soylent Green staring Charlton Heston, well worth a look.   :) The right would just love to bring that into law.... LOL it's the 'left' (specifically environmentalists) that talk about population control.... Yes, but it seems to be mostly the right which thinks that certain demographics 'shouldn't have the right to breed'. Hence I thought they'd like the Soylent Plan....... IT's also "the left" who are so keen in bring in foreigners, supposedly to do 'the jobs that australians won't do'. I wonder if Australians 50+ would at least like a chance to do those jobs? The "right' bogey man has been dead for decades.  You leftists backed the wrong pony, and now we're all paying the price.  Don't say i didn't warn you.

Classic wormtongue lies and propaganda of the Political and Corporate class.  To close your mind to them is to enthone yourself in your life. 8-)

How good is Logan's Run. I still get some wood for Jenny Agutter and would still do her today!

Australia has the highest ration of Aged population in the world. You could say we are Logan's Run in reverse. Seems our 'Youth' have trouble 'growing up', hence an incredibly high Suicide Rate (in the world, this side of Finland).
Maybe its a lack on national 'ritual'?

I would say for nations like China, Mexico and others that put emphasis in 'Population' growth in the name of the Fountain of Youth and all the stupidity that comes with it, especially those 'closed' nations that lack any 'incoming' genetic diversity from other races.
...lack Cultural change and advancement.
Hence why Nippon (Japan) can only advance, by 'Copying' or 'Replicating' other nations for lack of any 'originality' other than a long ago ...past.

When I worked Aged Care and tended to that 'Old Man' sitting in the Water Chair with drool hanging out of his mouth as he stared vacantly at whatever and just smiled as I did my best to add some sort of stimulation to his life within the bounds of why I was there in the first place as an Adult.
...then the kids came in from a nearby school and suddenly, as one kid approached the old man, he suddenly became 'alive' again. There was a spark between the two as they went into their world that us 'adults' are not permitted. It was the Elixer of Life right there before me.

I do not believe in social engineering of any kind any more than I believe in any form of religious or Political doctrinal control.   8-)