Is there ageism the IT industry?

If one were to imagine the average IT worker, it is very possible that a junior fresh out of college or a thirty- or possibly forty-year-old would come to mind first. People in their fifties are no longer associated with high IT skills; there is a perception that the older one gets, the more difficult it is to keep up with the ever-changing technology. Is this just a myth, or is the technology industry actually no place for older workers?

Demographics of the IT industry

According to a Bulldog Job report, the average age of IT professionals in Poland is 30 and only 15% of them are over 36. In the United States, on the other hand, the average programmer is 29 years old.

Gotheburg researchers found that in the IT industry, age 35 is already considered mature, and older workers face the stereotype of not keeping up with the latest technology. People over 40 with years of experience in the industry very often move into management positions, so it's harder to find them working on code.?

Ageism in IT

Mature employees face many prejudices about their age, as well as abysmal generational differences between them and their younger colleagues. Programmers in their 40s sometimes complain of a lack of common language and difficulty integrating with younger employees.

According to Visier, discrimination against older people in the technology industry does not manifest itself in either wages or early resignation rates. Instead, it is present in hiring practices. Disproportionately more young people are hired than older ones.?

Advantages of hiring mature workers

While hiring and onboarding an employee in their 40s may seem challenging, it is not necessarily so. Mature employees, even those moving into IT from other industries, have years of experience that translate into efficiency. In addition, such people tend to be loyal to the company and are less likely to change employers frequently - unlike younger generations who are still looking for their place in the job market.?

Bottom line

People in their 40s face specific challenges in the labor market, especially in such a youth-dominated industry as technology. All the more reason to invest in and support your oldest employees.?

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