Over 40 and moving into tech? Here’s what to consider…
TechInformed
In-depth reporting at the intersection of technology, business, and innovation. TechInformed is technology in action.
Tech has a poor track record of employing and supporting mid-career staff over 40. How can mature workers become more employable, and what should employers do? Generation’s Mona Mourshed has some ideas
Ask any CIO or tech CEO about their top challenges, and you’ll hear replies about skills gaps and talent shortages, especially in software development, data science, and cybersecurity.
One obvious solution to this would be to retrain existing staff in the workforce, who often possess years of experience and institutional knowledge.
These workers might be transitioning from another sector or switching from non-tech roles within the same firm. One stumbling block however, especially in the tech industry, appears to be age.
Many of these ‘mid-career’ workers are aged over 40 and the stats show the existence of anyone over the age of 45 in tech is a rare sighting indeed, particularly in entry-level roles.
US figures put the average age of a tech worker as...