the same talk is happening here - & we get similar replies.

So far no-one has mentioned the major objection here - old people can't get jobs! Young people won't employ them (broad but often true generalisation)

Who are the long term unemployed? (Aust. Bureau of Statistics report)

age discrimination in the workforce see the comments on this article for personal & prejudicial observations

10 years ago a 48 year old friend was trying to get back into his field. He was a respected professional, one of the experts the media contacted when they wanted info on his field who had left it for a few years & couldn't get back in.

He spoke of his experiences looking for work - of one interviewer staring at the (distinguished) grey hair in his temples & saying he was too old, while saying his application was so good that he (the interviewer) would copy it! Another had worked for him in the past & kept saying that my friend would want to be boss, even tho my friend just wanted a job in his field. Eventually he went back into academia where he could work in his field & pass on his knowledge.

In the past 10 years I've heard may similar stories: some folks are told to their faces they are too old, even tho Age Discrimination in illegal, others "just" apply for zillions of jobs & never even get interviews. Long term unemployment is demoralising.

I'm lucky - I spent my working life (36 years) in the Public (Civil) Service & acquired a good Public Service pension as unlike most of my contemporaries I didn't leave to have children. Most of my women friends raised children & only resumed paid work after their children had grown so rely on the smaller government pension.

sandra (retired almost 7 years)