Ageism is real and at an all-time high globally. In the past, this type of discrimination has been associated with Baby Boomers but recently Generation X has been feeling the sharp sting of ageism. The EECO, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, released a 2018 study of age discrimination cases it handled and it found that Generation X was at the top of the complaint list of dealing with age discrimination when looking for employment and in the workplace. 

Although there is a call for new employment globally Generation X is being overlooked when it comes to new job opportunities. We struggle to find employers that value our generation nor do they realize we are more tech-savvy than they think we are. There is a call for the EECO to handle this inequality in the workplace.

When dealing with inequality in the workplace has Generation X become the next generation to face employment ageism? Statistics show ageism against the Generation that is responsible for over 50 percent of technology start-ups is now considered technologically inept. 

Those with ten-year are just as good at their jobs as those with less time and yet for some reason employers are overlooking this group. The age group 45 and up are beginning to witness age discrimination and the fault lies with hiring managers. 

Generation X reported hiring managers to say candidates 35-44 have more outstanding relevant education, salient prior work, and the right technical skill for the job than the older candidates. I for one can bear witness to this hence the emails from recruiters stating, “although your skills are exceptional we regret to inform you we are going with a candidate who is a better fit for this role.” In obvious terminology, the hiring team has decided to go with someone younger.  

Growing calls to address the inequality in the workplace, overlooking this qualified group of workers, Gen Xers, when filling positions has increased drastically in just a short time.  What the younger generation does not know or has forgotten is that if it were not for Generation X they would not be digital natives.

Digital Native

This is a term used for the generation that was born into the digital era instead of immigrated into it. Generation Z is the first digital natives then Millennials who immigrated along with Generation X into the digital era. Ads for job positions frequently feature the whistleblowing

phrase such as digital native when listing the qualifications for a position. This phrase specifically excludes older workers without making it a written exclusion. Digital Native refers to a generation specifically raised from childhood in the digital movement instead of being digitally immigrated, those who came into the digital environment as adults.

Ageism has always been a relevant force in the workplace. However, the new epidemic of ageism against a new generation is beginning. Ageism is now affecting those who are age 40 but really affects those aged 45 – 61 otherwise known as Generation X.

In a survey of 3,900 people aged 45 and over a demographic that includes Generation X discuss their experience with age discrimination, 61percent of Generation X have personally experienced ageism and 9 in 10 see it as a common daily narrative.

1 in 3 Respondents Reported

Of the 3,900 people surveyed 1 in 3 reported the following issues;

• Not being hired because of their age
• Hearing negative remarks about people their age from colleagues 
• Being passed up for workplace opportunities due to their age
• Being laid off or fired because of their age
• Being denied new training opportunities due to their age

The same study reported that 44 percent were asked about their birth and high school graduation dates on job applications, which is currently legal. A prospective employer can ask about your date of birth and graduation dates during an interview. Asking a prospective employee their date of birth before being hired can be a way for hiring personnel to screen a prospect’s age. 

The Job Market is not Kind to those in their Mid 40’s

In fact, the job market is downright rude. There seems to be this misconception that Generation X is not tech savvy even though 55 percent of all start-ups were founded by generation Xers. We are not quick to learn, nor do we have enough knowledge to pick up on new technology so we are not even given a chance. We have been tossed aside for younger generations who have not spent the time Gen Xers have developing skills that are critical in order to relate to people effectively. 

Hiring managers say they can’t find enough skilled workers with the necessary soft skills across every industry, yet a whole generation is flooding the job market. We are overlooked by the younger generation and then you complain about that generation for wanting more before they have actually put the hard effort and time in suitable for earning a higher position.

The Truth about Generation X

Generation Xers are seriously tech-savvy and are ridiculously good at social media and content writing. We know how to connect with people and who a target audience consists of. We have spent years working hard developing client management skills and articulately communicating with colleagues and clients on a  professional daily basis. We have worked alongside multi-million and billion-dollar brands building strong relationships only to be told by some twenty or thirty-something-year-old that we are going with another candidate.

I had a feeling recently that I was beginning to feel the sting of ageism so I put it to the test. Only after I wrote a piece on content was I convinced ageism is becoming a big problem. I asked for feedback from this individual because I knew there was nothing wrong with my piece of writing. In fact, I had other professionals review it and we were all in agreement after reviewing the company’s site and pictures of all the very young staff writers the writing content was elementary at best the conclusion was unanimous ageism. I received a message back with three points taken directly from the webpage “How to write good content”. It was regurgitated feedback from a college professor at best, and if my 16-year-old son understood exactly who, what, and why the article I wrote meant, it became blatantly obvious, that I a Generation Xer did not fall into their age category, I am not twenty-something years old. 

The Facts

According to BLS and fellow Generation Xers, 40 percent of people ages 55 and older are actually looking for new jobs, which is expected to increase by 2024. In 2020, 35 percent of the workforce was over 50 years old and by 2024 it is going to be completely unavoidable to hire talented Generation Xers. 

Employers will not be able to hire just fresh talent out of college because Gen Xers make up 31 percent of the economy and 25 percent of the population.

A whopping 65 percent of all Gen Xers work full time and 54 percent do not plan on retiring at the age of 65. In fact, we plan on working well into our 70s. Because we like working and having our own money and should not depend on social security. Which is smart, we want to save as much as we can before we do eventually retire.

Taking Action Against Age Discrimination in the WorkPlace

If you have been the victim of ageism in the workplace there are ways you can take action. First and foremost report the offense to your company’s grievance system. They should be aware of any inequality happening within the company. You can then file a report with the EECO, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if you do not get fair handling of the situation through your company.

In 2021 there were 20,857 claims of age inequality in the workplace to the EECO. That is a staggering number of claims against an employer for age discrimination. While employees over the age of 45 experience ageism in the workplace there is another staggering amount that faces ageism during the hiring process. Employers see individuals 45 years of age and up as not being experienced or having strength when filling positions regardless of their strong resumes. Out of this age group, 70 percent still remain without a job long-term. 

Of all the companies hiring and with open positions how many of those employers filled these open positions with individuals over the age of 45 is my question. That is where many Generation Xers are feeling the actual sting of ageism. That is where the EECO and AARP need to begin their investigation into ageism against Generation X.