Because employers don't want anyone old enough to be their parents, and possibly more experienced and wiser too...

Those same employers will also bark and whinge about old "shiftless" people collecting welfare too, no doubt.

Meh, I don't want them as my boss either if I'm judged merely by my age rather than by the quality of my work.

By CW | February 14, 2012 3:13 PM

Yup, they did a survey last summer, and discovered that, employers are not interested in employing people over the age of 45yrs old. Is it me, or, has the world gone crazy. How can one plan a career, own a house, and provide for a family with this kind of skewed mentality. The only people who can, and seem to do well these days are, 'Banksters' and 'Crooked Politicians', with their backhanders and jobs for the boys when, they retire from office. What a bullshit system!

By Highlander | February 14, 2012 4:03 PM

Guess once they hit 60 they are not pretty enough to look at any more,,tsk tsk,, age discrimination!

By Lincolnnn Loggs | February 14, 2012 4:30 PM

The government, the unions and employers all need to get on the same page.Why they would dismiss a valuable segment (seniors) of the workforce is beyond me. Most likely it has to do with money and benefits... that's usually the motivation. Very shortsighted.
It's the governments' responsibility to create incentives for companies to hire and keep seniors on the job.

By Quince | February 14, 2012 5:13 PM

Yes. That is exactly what it is. Age discrimination. It's happening to me and it's very annoying (read terrifying) trying to live on what I made in 1980 because I'm being ignored for every job in my field that I apply for.

By The Cat Lady | February 14, 2012 5:52 PM

Given the report, how can governments increase the retirement age to 67 when it is quite clear that employers do no want employees over the age of 60? It will soon prove to be 'unworkable' (in more ways than one) and soon the government will have to give employers an incentive to keep employees above that age.

By Ester | February 14, 2012 6:00 PM

This is happening to me also. I am fit enough to work, but have been told by several Uitzenbureas that I am too old. This is age discrimination, plus ofcourse, it is much cheaper to employ a younger person with little or no experience than an older person with experience.

By DougNL | February 14, 2012 9:25 PM

People keep asking "how can they do this?", or that it will "prove unworkable". I would ask you to please consider that your neoliberal overlords in the VVD, along with their poodles in the CDA, PVV, and the business "community" don't actually give a damn what you do when you're older and can't find work. Perhaps beg on the street, or curl up and die. -The system works perfectly in their eyes. If you can't re-educate yourself and successfully market yourself, then the "invisible hand" of the market has done its job. If you're sick and don't have insurance, it's not their problem because you "were an irresponsible and lazy individual".

By Kevin | February 14, 2012 9:38 PM

I am from Australia and we have the same problem in Qhealth where the average age of a member of nursing staff is 50 yo at the moment. They just cannot get them. What doe that tell you then??? Am planning to work until age 70 in order to comfortably retire. So doe my husband who is an engineer.
regards. AOB

By Anna | February 14, 2012 11:00 PM

It is very simple: because of current government regulations, and employment agreements, employing older people is extremely expensive, WAY more expensive than someone younger. Employers obviously then dont want to do that. If the government makes equal costs, employers will employ whoever is best for the job! Same problem with full-time employment - it is simply too risky for business!

If regulations are fixed, the problem will resolve itself!

By Bigoceans | February 15, 2012 8:01 AM

Holland's economy is contracting and we are now officially in recession. With the government and employers fiddling about with social engineering issues (in order to maximise THEIR incomes), the country is sinking into a quagmire. It soon won't matter how old you are. Stand by for more cuts, layoffs and tax increases.

By Mike Hardman | February 15, 2012 11:22 AM

So, rather than pay the pension from age 65, it will be unemployment benefit?

Sad.

By H. | February 15, 2012 11:49 AM

Yup, it happened to me and many others of my age. I worked for a Dutch semiconductor company which had NEVER been out the top 10. Now it is no. 20. All the millions invested in entertainment and mobile communications have been wasted as these parts have been sold. The three Cinderella groups I worked with Standard products, Automotive & Indentification (smartcards+) is ALL that remains. It's putting wages before experience & knowledge - and I think the outcome will be clear!

By Andrew | February 15, 2012 2:12 PM

Crazy, suicide behavior and wasteful. Decrease the number of productive people and increase of unproductive one. Any professor of economics at any university of the World can predict the outcome without any possible error. GDP reduction and impoverishment of the country. The short-term greed always produces the same results. While efforts and shared benefits produce the opposite ones.

By zenplus | February 15, 2012 4:03 PM

I do wonder what the real, core reason is for employers being 'afraid' of people over 50? Is it some psychological sickness- afraid it rubs off on them?! It's going to be very difficult for people over 45-50 to stay out of poverty.

By Carrie Ballard | February 15, 2012 4:35 PM

The existence in industries of arbitrary discrimination in employment because of age, burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce. In my view, the only answer for long term job security are 'Co-operatives'. In a report published in 2007 it was said that, "People are considered old these days after turning 45," Paulus Plas, spokesman for FNV, the biggest Dutch union, told dpa.
"Several years ago we asked the Royal University of Utrecht to investigate the prevalence and scope of age discrimination in the workplace. The findings of that study were shocking."

http://www.aarp.org/work/on-the-job/info-09-2011/co-operative-group-aarp-best-employers.html

By Highlander | February 15, 2012 4:35 PM

Highlander is right. Unfortunately this new job discrimination is happening everywhere in the world. In the US people are giving up home ownership due to lost jobs and unable to fit into the new job market. Service jobs, minimum wage jobs are the college educated new goals. Crooked system of politicians and banksters who run all our countries. Seems the Greeks realize there is no future for the average workers so they burn down the banks and businesses. Crazy world we live in. eh.

By Josh | February 15, 2012 7:47 PM

Oh well, looks like the retirement age needs to drop to 60 then! Yay!
Who wants to work a job where your boss resents you anyway.

By Andrejs | February 16, 2012 8:31 AM

Age discrimination, is endemic, not just here, but, elsewhere too. Its rather a pity to waste all that experience and wisdom. Interestingly enough, why are politicians not too old for the positions that they hold, does age and experience count there too? And, the international bankers that advice us on bailouts and our economy's, not to old either, it seems? One rule for the rich, one rule for the poor. Exploitation, of the younger worker methinks, cheaper, and more malleable?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9084884/Older-workers-on-jobs-scrapheap-as-crisis-deepens.html

By Highlander | February 16, 2012 8:59 AM

Sooner or later, though, they will have to face the reality that the world over is an ageing society, and if they cannot accept older workers, they will not have enough people in the workforce to maintain the momentum.

By poeliewoepsie | February 16, 2012 9:17 AM

It wouldn't eliminate age discrimination (I mean, you can't always turn back the ravages of time) but two things should be considered to lessen it:

1. Do not insist on one's date of birth to be on CV.

2. Stop discouraging retraining as a mature student by offering grants and eliminating the tuition rise after the age of 30.

I graduated from a foreign university as a mature student. I can, by leaving my DOB off my CV, give the impression of being 10 years younger than I am. By insisting that people fit into stereotypes, even when they can't, you only create problems, not solve them.

By CW | February 16, 2012 9:17 AM

@CW, 10yrs younger than you look?

Can you inform the readers of the daily 'DutchNews', which anti wrinkle creams you are applying. Many thanks.

By Highlander | February 16, 2012 10:17 AM

Let's face it, many politicians(imo) don't care about anyone but themselves
They have it sown up, well paid jobs, expense accounts, 80% of their last wage when voted out. Then when they retire they go on to be directors of companies like KPN, KLM, ING etc, then sit back and collect all those fat bonuses each year!
How many of our political representatives do you really trust to do what's best for the country & general population?

By Donaugh | February 16, 2012 10:56 AM