Past it at 40?

There is a growing recognition that people over the age of 50 experience discrimination in the labour market. This report provides new evidence that ageism and discrimination are also having devastating effects on the lives of people as young as 40, with a cost to the economy of up to #31 billion per year. Why do so many "older" people who want to work find it difficult to do so? Why are employers reluctant to employ them? Is it purely the effect of discrimination and ageist attitudes? Or are there some other reasons? What can and should be done to achieve change for the better in the future? "Past it at 40?" provides answers to these questions. It explores, in detail, the experiences of people over 40 trying to enter the labour market, including: people who have been made redundant; the long-term unemployed; women returners; people with disabilities; and people still in a job but needing new skills to keep going. Employers' attitudes, policies and practices are examined, revealing a worrying lack of awareness of national and European legislation in relation to the employment of older people.