Most older workers have seen or experienced age discrimination

If you've experienced age discrimination at work, you're not alone. More than two-thirds of workers ages 50 or older say they've seen or experienced it, according to an AARP study published in January. The study also found that 22% of people ages 50 and up feel like they're being pushed out of their jobs due to age. As part of an ongoing Work and Jobs Data Trend Series AARP launched in 2022, AARP's January update covered 2024 and 2025 and was based on interviews with over 2,500 U.S. workers. The findings are explained in detail below.

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Multicultural Workers Experience Age Discrimination Most Often

The number of multicultural workers who've seen or experienced discrimination, and the number who feel they're being pushed out of their jobs, is disproportionately high, albeit slightly improved from 2024 to 2025. African American workers have the highest incidence, followed by Hispanic/Latino workers and workers of Asian and Pacific Island descent.

Older Workers Believe Age Discrimination Is Common

Among the general population, 91% of the workers who reported having seen or experienced age discrimination believe it's common, and more than one-third believe it's very common. That belief is slightly more common among multicultural workers.

"I also see cases where an employer starts saying things like ‘energy,' ‘fresh perspectives are needed,' or that they are looking for someone who is a ‘better cultural fit."

Age Discrimination Isn't Always Obvious

Sixty percent of the workers AARP surveyed experienced subtle forms of discrimination. The most common were the assumptions that they're less tech-savvy and more resistant to change compared to younger co-workers.

Eric Kingsley, partner at Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers in Encino, California, said age discrimination often reveals itself through patterns of treatment. For example, employees who have histories of excellent performance reviews begin receiving poor reviews, or they might be excluded from meetings, projects and advancement opportunities they'd have been considered for in the past.

"I also see cases where an employer starts saying things like ‘energy,' ‘fresh perspectives are needed,' or that they are looking for someone who is a ‘better cultural fit,'" Kingsley said, noting that those words can be code words for discrimination.

Impact of Age Discrimination on Older Workers

Although older workers are less likely to be unemployed, a May AARP analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data found that unemployed workers ages 55 and up are far more likely than younger workers to be long-term unemployed.

That data bears out older workers' perception that age discrimination is the largest barrier to finding work. That has obvious consequences, such as financial instability, loss of insurance and possibly forced or delayed retirement. But the more subtle forms of age discrimination also take a toll. For example:

• Restricted earnings during peak earning years
• Fewer opportunities to advance skills
• Increased job stress

What To Do If You're the Victim of Age Discrimination

Federal and state laws protect employees from age discrimination, and workers ages 40 and older are a protected class in many states, according to Kingsley. The first thing to do if you've been affected is to document your experiences. Keep copies of performance evaluations, emails and other written communications regarding your job performance, for instance, and record comments related to your age, along with who said them and when.

"This information could potentially become very important in the future," said Kingsley, who also recommended contacting an attorney to find out what your rights are.

"It is not easy to recognize age discrimination because employers do not usually come out and say that age is an issue," Kingsley said. "However, if experienced employees at work are seeing sudden changes in the way that they are being treated in relation to younger employees, it is probably time to pay attention."

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This story was originally published July 1, 2026 at 6:17 AM.