Age Discrimination Statistics and Facts

Age discrimination, or ageism, is defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as treating an applicant or employee less favorably because of his or her age. Age discrimination impacts a wide variety of industries in the U.S. and can affect older worker’s well-being and mental health. And while illegal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), age discrimination remains a perceivable issue impacting older working Americans.

Key Insights

• As many as one-third of U.S. workers reported feeling some form of age discrimination within their careers in 2023. And 72% of these said they felt like quitting due to the unfair treatment.
• Between 2022 and 2023, charges of age discrimination received by the EEOC rose from 11,500 to 14,144, an increase of almost 23%.
• The media industry has an increased chance of age-related discrimination and unfair treatment, with an increasing proportion of workers ages 75 and older (3.2%) in the industry compared to younger workers ages 25 to 54 (2%).
• By 2032, the category of U.S. workers ages 55 and older will account for 24.1% of the workforce, a little less than a 10% change in distribution from 2002.
• From 1997 to 2023, about 490,000 workers in the U.S. filed claims of age discrimination with the EEOC. That accounts for an average of 18,200 claims per year filed for ageism experienced at work.

Age Discrimination Statistics

Ageism appears throughout mass media and persists with damaging stereotypes. As America’s workforce ages, these stereotypes and biases can have negative effects on older workers looking to enter or remain in their professional roles.

• The U.S. median age increased by 0.2 years to 38.9 between 2021 and 2022, with a third of U.S. states having a median age above 40 in 2022.
• Stereotypes about age impact older workers. Older employees are more likely to be seen by others as not competent with technology (49%), resistant to doing things in new ways (38%), and stubborn and/or grumpy (48%).
• Only 3% of older workers have ever made an official complaint related to age discrimination.
• A significant portion of older Americans (90%) strongly support strengthening age discrimination laws. Approximately 4 in 5 adults ages 50 and older believe that older Americans need to be protected from ageism in the workplace.

What Percentage of Workers Feel Age Discrimination?

Age discrimination has grown into more of a problem as more Americans choose or are forced to work beyond the typical retirement age. According to a national survey by AARP, 42% of Americans ages 45 and older say they work because they need the money, and 12% say they work to support other family members.

As many as one-third of U.S. workers reported feeling some form of age discrimination during their careers in 2023. And 72% of those respondents said they felt like quitting due to such unfair treatment.

Age discrimination heavily impacts older U.S. workers. In 2018, 1 in 4 workers ages 45 and older shared that they had been aware of negative comments about their age from co-workers or supervisors. As many as 3 in 5 older workers said they had seen or personally experienced age discrimination.

Between 2022 and 2023, charges of age discrimination received by the EEOC rose from 11,500 to 14,144, an increase of almost 23%. Of course, not every person who believes they have been the victim of age-based discrimination files a charge. There were only 12 lawsuits in 2023 with age-based discrimination claims, compared to 49 disability claims and 92 Title VII claims.

Which Industries Face the Most Age Discrimination?

Ageism impacts various industries. There are most likely no industries where age discrimination does not appear in some form, but some industries experience higher levels of it.

Age discrimination in the technology industry comes largely from the perception of older workers as less technologically savvy. However, some companies may opt for younger workers so they can provide lower salaries. 

Hiring managers for jobs where physical labor is required, including construction, shipping, and manufacturing, can hold the belief that older employees cannot handle the physical demands of these jobs. Further, employers may prefer younger workers for basic customer service roles because they feel more relatable and personable. 

The media industries, including TV, film, music, radio, and advertising, may also tend to hire younger talent. Older workers have an increased chance of experiencing age-related discrimination or unfair treatment in many industries, especially those where they commonly continue working past the ages of 65 and 75. For example, the proportion of workers ages 55 and older in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry (1.9%) is similar to the proportion of workers in that industry ages 25 to 54 (2%). The percentage of workers in this industry is even higher for those ages 65 and older (2.8%) and 75 and older (3.2%). This is significant in its contrast to the proportion of older workers in industries like manufacturing where a younger workforce comprises the industry.

How Is Age Discrimination Taking Place? 

Discrimination based on a worker’s age is illegal in the U.S. However, illegal and discriminatory practices continue to impact three primary areas: recruitment and hiring, on-the-job bias, and termination.

Younger applicants might be seen more favorably by hiring managers simply because of their age. Even when a younger and an older applicant have nearly identical experience and qualifications, age discrimination can negatively impact the older applicant’s chances of securing a position.⁴ Half of job seekers ages 50 and older reported being asked by an employer to share their birth date during the recruitment process.

Older workers might experience daily issues related to ageism in the workplace. They might have fewer opportunities to gain new skills, fewer chances for promotion, and can experience harassment. 

A company sometimes decides to make budget cuts by laying off senior employees. A company might also encourage senior employees to retire before they willingly desire to do so.

What Is the Age Breakdown of the Workforce?

In 2022, workers ages 55 and older accounted for 23.3% of the workforce. By 2032, that same category of U.S. workers will account for 24.1% of the workforce, a little less than a 10% change in distribution from 2002. From 2002 to 2022, the distribution of workers ages 16 to 24 and 25 to 54 fell from 15.4% to 12.8% and 70.2% to 63.8%, respectively.

Age Discrimination and the Law

Discrimination based on someone’s age is illegal in the U.S. Laws penalize workplaces that treat applicants and employees unfairly due to their age. The ADEA is the main law that forbids age discrimination. This law designates protection for workers ages 40 and older, although some states protect younger workers.

This law makes age-related employment discrimination illegal, including specifics related to hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, benefits, and more. The ADEA also makes harassment based on a person’s age illegal, whether the harasser is the victim’s direct supervisor, a different supervisor, a co-worker, or a customer.

FAQ

Where is age discrimination most common?

Age discrimination impacts the entire U.S., with employment discrimination charges found in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.⁶ However, age discrimination appears to be more prevalent in certain industries. Older workers are more vulnerable in industries where being young is perceived as an advantage. These industries can include technology, media, and jobs requiring physical or manual labor.

What age group is most affected by ageism?

People over the age of 50 report more often feeling discriminated against due to their age, especially within their workplace. Additionally, around 26% of U.S. workers ages 50 and older shared that they had been targeted with age-related rhetoric. Almost a third of all U.S. workers have felt unfairly treated because of their age at least once.³

How widespread is age discrimination?

In a survey of adults ages 45 and older, 61% said they had seen or experienced age discrimination at the workplace. Moreover, 38% said they believe ageism at work is very common.

How prevalent is ageism in the U.S.?

The prevalence of all forms of ageism, including assumptions about older people’s ability to handle technology, is high in the U.S. A large percentage (93%) of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 say they regularly experience ageism. For example, 65% of older adults say they see, hear, and read messaging on television, social media, and magazines that suggests older people are unattractive.

How hard is it to prove age discrimination?

From 1997 to 2023, about 490,000 workers in the U.S. filed claims of age discrimination with the EEOC. That accounts for an average of 18,200 claims per year filed for ageism experienced at work. However, proving that age discrimination occurred can be difficult after the initial claim. Employers can easily come up with an alternative reason for terminating employment or for some other form of reported discrimination.

References

“Age Discrimination.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Evaluated June 5, 2024. 

”America Is Getting Older.” U.S. Census Bureau. Evaluated June 5, 2024. 

“New SHRM Research Details Age Discrimination in the Workplace.” Society for Human Resource Management. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

Kita, J. “Workplace Age Discrimination Still Flourishes in America.” AARP. Evaluated June 5, 2024. 

”Age Discrimination Among Workers Age 50-Plus.” AARP. Evaluated June 5, 2024. 

”The Value of Experience Study: AARP’s Multicultural Work and Jobs Study.” AARP. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

”Enforcement and Litigation Statistics.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

“3 Industries Where Ageism Is Most Common.” Michel | King. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

Collins, S., & Casey, R. ”America’s Aging Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges.” Special Committee on Aging United States Senate. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

“Civilian labor force, by age, sex, race, and ethnicity.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. Evaluated June 5, 2024.

DeAngelis, T. ”By the numbers: Older adults report high levels of ageism.” American Psychological Association. Evaluated June 5, 2024. 

Yokwan, Y. “The Arduousness in Proving Age Discrimination.” National Institutes of Health. Evaluated June 5, 2024.