In response to the opinion survey released by the European Commission yesterday (9 November 2009), on the strong increase in perceived discrimination based on age and disability, Chris Ball Chief Executive of TAEN - The Age and Employment Network says:

“This survey reports figures that are consistent with our recently published UK survey (27 July 2009) on the effects of the economic downturn on older jobseekers.

TAEN – The Age and Employment Network’s Survey on Jobseekers Aged 50+ showed that in the UK during the recession, people of over 50 who are seeking work believe there has been a pronounced increase in age discrimination.

This is in line with the 58 per cent of Europeans who now feel age discrimination is widespread in their countries, compared with 42 per cent in 2008.

Clearly older people – and older jobseekers in particular - are feeling at even greater disadvantage than previously.  At a time when, across Europe, the age profiles of populations are changing and ageing, it is very worrying indeed to think that European employers generally are looking with disfavour on 50+ people.

All European economies will need older people to remain in work to boost recovery, maximise skills availability and ensure intergenerational transfer of knowledge as growth gathers momentum.”