Forties People

Sam Mercer, Director of the EFA, says: "We need to break the stereotype habit. Employers must recognise that a 'one size fits all' approach is flawed. It would make much more sense to find ways to retain and motivate workers, and offer flexibility, training and development - irrespective of age."

It’s a myth that age discrimination only affects the 50+ age group - reveals EFA's Age At Work study. Ageism at work appears to be a bigger problem for people in their late teens than their 50s.

25 per cent of school leavers have faced age discrimination compared to 21 per cent of those over 50 and 18% of those over 60.

Young people are denied interesting and challenging jobs, which is why they move on frequently: it’s nothing to do with a lack of loyalty.

Seventy per cent of those in their 20s believe a career path is important - the highest among all groups, yet only 25% are given interesting challenges and 21% claim what they do is boring.

People in their 50’s and 60’s aren’t all rushing to retire: 30% of people are happy to work until they’re 70 and 13% dread retirement, a feeling that increases with age.

People are happier at work the older they get: 93% of the over 60s like work - the highest among all age groups.

"As a young person I experienced the age barrier"

Busting ageist myths

Teenager elected as new Youth Mayor for Bridgend council