Older Job Seekers Fear Age Discrimination, Even as AI Becomes a Bigger Workplace Threat

New AARP research shows more Americans 50-plus want job changes than previously

Emily Paulin,

AARP

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Published January 17, 2025

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A growing number of older Americans say they are planning for job changes this year, according to new research by AARP. But they worry that age discrimination could prevent them from securing new employment – maybe even more so than the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.

Almost a quarter of Americans ages 50 and older say they plan to make a job switch in 2025, according to AARP’s survey, released Thursday. That’s a 10 percent jump in the number of older workers who want a change compared to last year’s survey.

Making a shift seems particularly popular among older Black and Hispanic/Latino workers, with roughly two in five workers from both groups saying they plan to make a job change in 2025.

Money is the main motivator for those looking for a job shift. Forty percent of those seeking a change list a higher wage as their main reason for a switch. Ten percent say they want to make a difference or do something meaningful; 9 percent are seeking more retirement savings; another 9 percent want more flexible work arrangements, according to the survey, which polled more than 3,500 people 50 and older.

“Today, roughly 38 million older adults are working; that’s more than two and a half times the number of older adults working 40 years ago,” said Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience programming at AARP. “With high prices and inflation continuing to impact everything from housing costs to groceries, it’s no surprise older adults are looking to increase their income.”

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The findings of AARP’s survey track with recent research showing a growing number of Americans of all ages feel stuck in their jobs. Workers are seeking new employment opportunities at the highest rates since 2015, according to findings by Gallup, a global analytics and advisory firm.

Among older Americans planning a change, AARP found that 40 percent want a new role, while 17 percent want to change roles with their current employer. Sixteen percent plan to start their own business, almost double the number who said the same in last year’s research.

Concerns about age

While many older Americans desire a change in their employment status, concerns about ageism continue to be high.

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Almost three-quarters (74 percent) of older Americans believe their age could be a barrier to getting hired, AARP’s survey found. Meanwhile, about a third (34 percent) of current 50-plus workers or job seekers surveyed worried that AI could impact their job security, even as the use of artificial intelligence explodes, generating fear among some that the new technology will replace jobs.

Concerns around age discrimination are valid, according to past AARP research, which consistently shows the impact in the workplace. Almost two-thirds of workers age 50-plus reported seeing or experiencing age discrimination in their work settings, according to AARP’s 2024 research on work and jobs. Similar rates were found in the 2022 and 2023 data.

“Many older workers face age discrimination and are often overlooked for jobs they are qualified for, even though they bring expertise, maturity and perspective to the job,” AARP’s Roszkowski said. “This should not be the case. Employers need talent, and it makes great business sense to hire experienced workers.”

Help wanted

Of the survey respondents seeking a job change, 84 percent say they will need some form of help in making that change. That’s a 23 percent increase in calls for help compared to last year’s survey results.

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Twenty-nine percent of change seekers say learning how to apply current skills to a new role would be beneficial, while 28 percent say they need help updating their resume. Assistance preparing for job interviews and negotiating job offers are also top choices for help needed.

Explore AARP's Work & Jobs resources for expert advice on job hunting, gaining new skills and finding new ways to work as you age.

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Emily Paulin is an editor at aarp.org who covers nursing homes, health care, and federal and state policy. Her work has also appeared in Broadsheet, an Australian lifestyle publication.