There’s an interesting New York Times piece on why employers prefer to hire younger workers over older workers. It’s definitely worth reading. Weighing in on the question are: Peter Cappelli of Wharton School, Alicia H. Munnell of the Center for Retirement Research, Laurence J. Kotlikoff, a Boston University economist, Teresa Ghilarducci of the New School for Social Research, and Jean Twenge, a psychology professor. I pulled a few interesting quotes from the story:
Experiments have shown that even when credentials are absolutely identical, employers much prefer the younger candidates. There are no good reasons for this overall preference. Older workers perform better across the range of relevant performance indicators — better skills, especially interpersonal skills, better attendance, more conscientious, and so on.
The real reason employers seem to prefer younger candidates has to do with perceptions of supervisors who often worry about how manage older subordinates: How can I supervise someone who has more experience than I have…
One part of the problem is matching worker with job. Older workers have a lifetime of preferences and skills — essentially unique-shaped pegs that can fit into a limited number of holes. Younger workers are malleable and can fit more easily into a variety of positions.
Prospective employers are acutely aware that older workers’ health care costs are much higher than for younger workers — that alone may privilege the young.
Research shows that the younger generation, on average, is higher in self-esteem, assertiveness and narcissism, characteristics that may help them self-promote and impress during a job interview.
What’s YOUR experience? I’d love to hear your comments
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