Why people like us, who are 40 years old and Above 40, are so hard to be Hired?

i agree with most reasons people have given i.e. young people are cheaper...however i also think that it is mainly a power thing meaning that young people can be manipulated and bullied easier, basically easier to control and are usually less of a threat no matter how good they are at their jobs , to the bosses position. Us 40 plusers would be more intimidating to 'manage' and are wiser to the games people play.40 nowadays is still pretty young lok for jobs that prefer maturity or wear a baseball cap sideways at an interview and go yoh dudes !

I hire people for my business and i hire all sorts and ages. The age range you are talking about (i am 47) have the most experience in the job and while some think that they are to old i tend to think that experience is quicker then youth and brain is more economic then braun. Anyone who says different is to young and doesnt know the difference.

Because the bottom line is everything. Older employees have higher health care costs, which cause the employer's share of health insurance costs to go up. Older works usually can't afford to work for minimum wage and, even when they're willing, employers feel those workers will leave as soon as they find a better paying job. There are other reasons, too, but they're equally poor ones.....like age discrimination.

I'm 48 and finding that what everyone is saying about 'hard to find a job' is so true. And I fully understand employers position on hiring in this age bracket. But on the other hand I don't have small children anylonger that need to be picked up by 5pm from daycare, or need to attended to at home when they have an illness. And I have years and years of customer service experience that is priceless, and I have patience that has developed over the years.

Younger people can be hired with little or no benefits and there are plenty out there! The reason for those that are elder is that there could be health risks, the ability to perform the duties depending on what they are! Computer skills, and the motivation of performing the work depending on what they did previously. For instance, If I was a aviation specialist for 22 years and was laid off and applied to work for a maintenance firm that dealt with heavy machinery, the likelihood that you would enjoy the work or be motivated to stick it out! There are a host of reasons and it is very sad! I fear for myself and family over the next 13 years! My retirement was devastated and now I am picking off of it to help us get by! When it is gone, Then what?

Youth is so often more important. A 40 year old isn't valued for experience when it's longetivity that is more important. The "can't teach and old dog new tricks" comes into play here.

well generally older people are hard to manipulate than younger ones. Older has a tendency to overpower others coz of their age experiance not only in work but in different ways. When a GM needs something, he can directly ask the youngs to do it without hesitations....

You lack vitality and attractiveness. But if you have skill and experience to show for it, you'll get hired.

I think (but I'm no expert) it makes logic if were to vary per industry and job. Long experience in techniques that are outdated is relevant, but a younger person might already have some experience or training in the new technique making that experience more valuable. Also the physical requirements of the job my play a part, this is way older people tend to get replaced in television shows for children.

As far as I know your education, history and age only play half of the story. Who you are, your motivation and style of working is the other.

why would you want to work you can fall get hurt

I'm not 40 yet, but my mother has applied for over 100 jobs since she's been unemployed. Agism is rampant in our culture unfortunately. We see older people and instead of saying, "Hey, experience!" we say, "Hey, useless!" It's stupid. I wish you luck in your job search.

We are not hard to be hired, we are just not flippy young things anymore and that is the sad part. The young ones coming up don't know what it is like to be losing your job because of down sizing and you are later in years trying to find a new career.! snaps my twig!

Well its probably the appearance or because your not interesting enough.. it has nothing to do with your age. and it all depends on the job your trying to apply for.

I agree with Rik.

I am 49 now, and if you got me 10 years ago you would have gotten me a lot cheaper - maybe half what I make today. I get paid more for that experience, but if I were out looking today I'd have a narrower niche to exploit, which is the flip-side of the specialized experience. I would definitely be nervous about hitting the market right now - I would feel like I've been priced out of the market. I guess the secret is make yourself valuable in any job you take - try to carve out a meaningful role. I don't always manage to do that.

One becomes too expensive to hire & too easy to replace.

Unless the job values experience more than anything else and aside from what has been mentioned by the others about being expensive and a health risk, I think companies hire younger people who can be trained easily (faster learning curve) and whose attitudes they can still shape according to the mold they desire and in accordance with culture of the company. More mature people tend to be hardheaded and stubborn because they have developed work habits that are hard to undo and unlearn because they have developed these over the years.

Because it's not so easy to pull the wool over our eyes! We know what to ask about because of our years of "experience" . We aren't so easily impressed with meger wages and can actually put the pencil to the paper and figure out how much money it takes to live!

I'd like to add because you're going to retire sooner; companies would be hesitant to invest training, etc. in someone who will only be there for a few more years.

The work force in this country has a large number of 20-30 somethings looking at the same job you are.

I would rather hire someone a bit older like yourself but it depends on the companies goals