AARP Research Insights on Financial Resilience

AARP Research on financial resilience highlights U.S. adults' experiences with and feelings about savings and planning, workforce and employers, fraud, and Social Security.

Fraud

Fraud is widespread, well‑recognized, and highly concerning among U.S. adults

• The vast majority of adults age 18-plus (87%) know that fraud can happen to anyone. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• Many adults report high concern about scams and fraud, with an average worry level of 7.1 out of 10. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• An estimated 103 million adults (38%) have had money stolen due to fraud or had their sensitive information used fraudulently. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• While concern is high, many older Americans underestimate the true financial impact of fraud: the average loss for adults age 60 and older was $83,000 in 2024, yet only 16% of adults age 50-plus believe average losses exceed $50,000. [Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]

Social stigma and underreporting mask the true impact of fraud

• Over 6 in 10 adults age 50-plus (62%) view romance scam victims as targets of a crime.
• At the same time, 60% assume romance scam victims were “naive or too trusting,” reinforcing stigma and shame.
• More than half (55%) of romance scam incidents involving adults age 50-plus are never reported, often due to stigma or not knowing where to turn. 

[Source: Love, Trust & Online Deception: What Adults 50-plus Need to Know About Romance Scams, fielded November 2025]

Scammers use emotions, timing, and familiar situations to increase susceptibility

• Nearly 1 in 10 adults age 50-plus (9%) has experienced an online romantic connection that led to a request for money or cryptocurrency, with those ages 50 to 64 facing this risk at twice the rate of those age 65-plus.
• Romance scams frequently target older adults where they connect most: dating apps (63%), social media platforms (42%), and messaging apps (21%).

[Source: Love, Trust & Online Deception: What Adults 50-plus Need to Know About Romance Scams, fielded November 2025]

Awareness lags as traditional scam tactics are increasingly combined with cryptocurrency

• Among adults age 50-plus, awareness of crypto‑related scam variations includes family emergency scams (62%), fake romantic interests (58%), and fake government officials (55%). [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Fewer older adults (39%) have heard of the “compromised bank account” scam, where victims are told to protect their funds by converting them into cryptocurrency. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Confidence in recovery is low: Only 25% of older adults feel confident they would know what steps to take to get their money back or how to report the incident if they fell victim to a cryptocurrency-related scam. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Cryptocurrency ATMs are a significant blind spot; only 19% of adults say they could recognize one. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

Online shopping and delivery scams are increasingly common

• Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults (89%) report being targeted by or experiencing at least one form of fraud during the holiday season.
• Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) U.S. consumers have experienced fraud when seeking to buy a product through an online ad, a significant increase from 35% in 2024.
• Three in 10 (30%) adults have had a package stolen from outside their door, up from 25% in 2024.
• One in 3 (33%) adults have given or received a gift card with no balance.

[Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]

Emerging digital scams spread rapidly through everyday channels

• Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) adults received a scam text message about an unpaid toll in the past year. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• More than half (55%) of adults have received a fraudulent notification about a shipment issue. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Large majorities of older adults are concerned about AI‑enabled fraud tactics, including: Password cracking (87%); deepfakes (85%); spear phishing (84%); voice cloning (84%); synthetic identities (83%); and automated scams targeting large numbers of people (81%). [Source: Older Adults Express High Concern and Limited Knowledge about Scams and Fraud Involving Artificial Intelligence, fielded August 2024]
• Despite these concerns, 64% of adults feel confident they can recognize AI‑driven fraud — potentially creating a false sense of security. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]  

Protective behaviors exist, but knowledge and behavior gaps remain

• Only 27% of adults correctly answered seven or more true/false questions about safe financial practices. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• 66% of consumers incorrectly believe (or are unsure) that online retailers may request login information for customer support. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Only 55% of consumers know that a credit card is the safest way to pay online. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Significant exposure persists in digital activities:

- Only 35% use a unique password for every online account

- 60% do not use a VPN on public Wi‑Fi

- 21% answer calls and 10% respond to texts from unknown numbers at least half the time

[Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

• While most adults shred sensitive documents, 32% say they seldom or never do so. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

Consumers support stronger fraud protections from lawmakers and shared responsibility.

• Nine in 10 (92%) Americans agree that lawmakers need to do more to protect the public from fraud and scams. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• This support extends specifically to cryptocurrency: 92% of adults age 50-plus believe it is important for lawmakers to pass laws protecting consumers from crypto-kiosk-related fraud, such as setting transaction limits, licensing operators, and requiring paper receipts. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Anti-fraud advocacy influences voting behavior: 71% of older adults say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports strong laws to stop criminals from using crypto kiosks to steal money. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Older Americans place high importance on:

- Requiring social media companies to identify and remove scam advertisements (98%)

- Requiring phone companies to use better technology to block scam calls and text messages (98%)

- Requiring banks and payment apps to stop suspicious payments so people can be warned before money is sent (97%)

- Having the U.S. government work with international law enforcement to stop organized scam operations (97%)

- Requiring stronger anti‑scam protections for gift cards, which are frequently targeted by scammers (93%)

[Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]

Victim‑centered recovery measures receive strong public backing

• More than 8 in 10 (82%) adults age 50-plus adults say it is important to create a government fund to return stolen money to people who experience fraud when recovered funds are available. [Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]
• Nine in 10 (90%) adults age 50-plus support providing additional federal funding to help state and local police better identify, investigate, and stop financial scams targeting older adults, including nearly half who strongly support this approach. [Source: Stopping Scams, Supporting Victims: A National Survey of Adults Ages 50-Plus, fielded February 2026]
• More than 8 in 10 (86%) adults age 50-plus support legislation that would allow fraud victims to subtract stolen funds when filing their taxes — ensuring they are not taxed on money they no longer have — with nearly half expressing strong support. [Source: Stopping Scams, Supporting Victims: A National Survey of Adults Ages 50-Plus, fielded February 2026]

 

Savings & Planning

Despite slowing inflation, rising costs remain a primary concern for adults.

• More than 7 in 10 (72%) adults age 30-plus are worried about prices rising faster than their income. Among adults age 50-plus, 69% are worried.
• 22% of adults 30-plus say that their financial situation is worse than last year, with the majority (63%) of these adults citing increased expenses when asked to explain why their financial situation has deteriorated.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Overall financial insecurity has increased since 2022, particularly among middle- and upper-income adults.

• In January 2026, 42% of adults age 30-plus reported feeling financially insecure—defined as rating their financial situation as only "fair" or "poor"—up from 39% in January 2022.
• While individuals with the lowest incomes continue to be more likely than higher-income individuals to feel financially insecure, the steepest increase in sense of financial insecurity from 2022 to 2026 is concentrated among middle- and upper-income adults. For example, 36% of adults with household incomes of $75-$99K feel financially insecure in 2026 as do 21% of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more, up from 20% and 14%, respectively, in 2022.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Health care costs have intensified as a source of financial pressure.

• A record-high 49% of adults age 30-plus say their monthly health care expenses today are higher than they were 12 months ago, up from 42% who said this in 2022.
• Among adults age 50-plus, a record-high 52% say their monthly health care expenses today are higher than they were 12 months ago, up from 45% who said this in 2022.
• Furthermore, 49% of adults age 30-plus and 46% of adults age 50-plus worry about having enough money to cover health insurance or medical costs.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Inadequate retirement savings remains a source of worry and vulnerability.

• 64% of adults age 30-plus and 60% of adults age 50-plus are worried about having enough money to be financially secure throughout their retirement years.
• 39% of non-retired adults age 30-plus and 30% of non-retired adults age 50-plus have less than $10,000 saved for retirement.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Emergency savings is paramount to boosting sense of financial security and can help one be better prepared for financial shocks.

• Emergency savings is an especially strong driver of sense of financial security. Regardless of income, adults who feel financially secure are especially likely to have emergency savings. For example, among adults with incomes of $40,000-$74,000, 84% of those who feel secure have emergency savings compared to just 36% of those who feel insecure.
• In the past year, 45% of adults age 30-plus and 40% of adults age 50-plus experienced a financial shock such as a large, unexpected expense, an unexpected reduction in income, or losing money due to fraud.
• A large, unexpected expense is the most common of these financial shocks. Over the past year, 34% of adults age 30-plus and 32% of adults age 50-plus experienced a large, unexpected expense.  The most common types of large, unexpected expenses include vehicle expenses, housing expenses, and medical expenses.
• Having experienced a financial shock in the past year is associated with a lower sense of financial security. Among adults age 30-plus who feel financially insecure, roughly 6 in 10 (59%) say they experienced a financial shock in the past year. In contrast, just 35% of adults who feel financially secure experienced a shock over the past year.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Credit card debt carried over from month to month is the most common type of debt and is a primary driver of sense of financial insecurity.

• While 75% of adults age 30-plus carry some form of debt, credit card debt is the most common type of debt.  41% of adults age 30-plus carry credit card debt, including 38% of adults age 50-plus.
• Credit card debt is especially common among those who feel financially insecure. More than half (56%) of adults age 30-plus who feel insecure carry credit card debt, compared to just 29% of those who feel secure.
• In addition to credit card debt, medical debt, utility debt, and bank loans are other types of debt that are much more common among adults age 30-plus who feel financially insecure compared to adults who feel financially secure.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Many adults act as a financial safety net for loved ones, often at a personal cost.

• More than half (57%) of adults age 30-plus have loaned money to a family member or friend with the expectation of being repaid. Of those who have given such loans, the overwhelming majority (81%) say the loan was to help someone who was having trouble covering their expenses.
• While many adults step in with the hope of helping someone recover financially, repayment outcomes are often mixed. Among those who have loaned money to family or friends with the expectation of being paid back, 39% say they were repaid in full, while 38% received only partial repayment, and nearly one in four (23%) say they were never repaid any of the money.
• Among those who have loaned money to a family member or friend with the expectation of being repaid, 54% experienced negative consequences such as stress, strain on the relationship, or strain on their finances. Those who have not been fully repaid are especially likely to report negative consequences. For example, of those who have not been repaid any of the money they loaned, 73% experienced at least one negative consequence as a result of the loan. In contrast, just 32% of those who were fully repaid experienced negative consequences.
• Despite these risks, 55% of those who experienced negative outcomes remain willing to loan money to family or friends again in the future.

[Source: 2026 Financial Security Trends Survey, fielded January 2026]

Americans have little interest in adding private market investments and cryptocurrency to workplace retirement accounts.

• Most adults age 18-plus (61%), including 65% of adults age 50-plus, do not think it is important to be able to invest in private market investments in a workplace retirement account.
• Even more adults age 18-plus (73%), including 80% of adults age 50-plus, do not think it is important to be able to invest in cryptocurrency in a workplace retirement account.
• Interest in investing in private market investments declines sharply when people learn about fees, liquidity, transparency, and risk – three in five adults age 18-plus are not at all interested and another quarter are only slightly interested.
• Cryptocurrency starts with low interest across all age groups (62% not interested), and additional information further reduces interest by roughly 10 percentage points.
• Most adults age 18-plus are uncomfortable with being automatically enrolled in funds that include private market investments (68%) and cryptocurrency (75%). This resistance is especially widespread among adults age 50-plus, 74% of whom are uncomfortable with being automatically enrolled in private market investments and 84% of whom are uncomfortable with being automatically enrolled in cryptocurrency.

 [Source:  Americans’ Knowledge of Private Market Investments and Crypotcurrency and Interest in Their Inclusion in Workplace Retirement Savings Accounts, fielded October 2025]

When choosing how to receive retirement income, older workers prioritize control and access, expressing a preference for automated distributions over options such as annuities that restrict access.

• Among non-retired workers ages 50-70 with workplace retirement accounts, 62% would prefer an "automatic distribution" option that provides automatic regular withdrawals while allowing them to maintain full control and access to their savings.
• Such automatic distributions are more appealing than managed distributions or annuity-based options.
• Interest in annuities drops significantly once the complex tradeoffs are explained. While 60% of older participants initially show interest in annuities when described in general terms, that interest falls to 45% once specific features—such as limited access to savings and lack of inflation protection—are made clear.
• 87% of non-retired workers ages 50-70 with workplace retirement accounts lack the basic financial knowledge needed to evaluate the complex features and protections of annuities.

[Source: Turning Workplace Savings into Retirement Income, fielded November-December 2025]

 

Social Security

Social Security is a bipartisan issue.

• A strong majority (96%) of adults age 18-plus say that Social Security is an important program compared to other government programs. This support remains consistent across political party affiliations.
• In fact, nearly three-quarters (74%) of adults age 18-plus indicate it is "one of the most important programs," a significant increase from 68% in 2020.
• Support spans generations, though the intensity of importance grows with age; 85% of adults 50-plus call it one of the most important programs compared to 65% of those ages 18 to 49.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Americans rely or will rely heavily on Social Security for retirement income.

• About 2 in 5 Americans (39%) say they rely or will rely on Social Security for a substantial amount of their retirement income.
• When identifying the single source they will rely on most, Social Security (40%) remains the most common response, followed by personal retirement accounts like 401(k)s at 29%.
• Reliance is highest among current retirees: 65% report relying on Social Security for a substantial portion of their income.
• Vast majorities of Americans plan to rely on the program: 80% of adults report they will rely on it at least "somewhat" for retirement income.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Many Americans lack the knowledge needed to make important Social Security related decisions.

• While 84% of Americans age 18-plus say it is important to understand the best age to claim benefits, 74% do not know the age that maximizes their monthly payments (age 70).
• Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) misunderstand the impact of the Trust Fund being exhausted. 36% incorrectly believe all payments would stop, while only 34% correctly understand that benefits would continue at a reduced level.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Most Americans believe the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is too low.

• In 2025, 62% of Americans age 18-plus believe the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit of $2,002 is too low.
• Concern about financial stability is high: 78% of adults age 18-plus are concerned that Social Security will not be enough to get by on. This includes 80% of those ages 18 to 49 and 76% of those 50-plus.
• Concerns about the program's availability are deeply felt; 80% of adults age 18-plus worry the program will not be there for them when they need it.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Older adults are concerned about the impact of inflation and the adequacy of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

• 77% of Americans age 50-plus disagree that the projected 3% COLA for 2026 is enough to keep up with rising prices. [Source: 2026 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Survey, fielded September 2025]
• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of older adults believe an increase of 5% or higher is necessary to help recipients afford everyday living expenses. [Source: 2026 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Survey, fielded September 2025]
• Misinformation is driving a "rush" to claim benefits: 49% of older Americans who recently claimed (or plan to claim) benefits earlier than planned were motivated by fears that the program is "running out of money". [Source: Social Security Early Claiming, 2025, fielded June 2025]

Americans feel responsible to ensure Social Security is there for everyone and believe it makes the lives of retirees better.

• 90% of adults age 18-plus believe "it would be unfair to people who are retired or near retirement to make major changes to Social Security that would affect them".
• The vast majority (89%) agree that "Social Security provides financial security for all Americans; without it, the people who count on it most would really suffer".
• 88% believe the program "makes it possible for many older Americans to remain independent and not have to depend on their children or family".
• 85% support the principle that "everyone who pays into Social Security should receive it no matter what other income they have".

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Workforce & Employers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology Adoption

• Widespread employer integration: 88% of employers currently use some form of AI in their operations. [Source: AI, Employers, and the Multigenerational Workforce, fielded November-December 2025]
• Strategic decision makers: 46% of employers report that most or all of their strategic decisions regarding where and how to use AI are made by employees age 40 and older. [Source: AI, Employers, and the Multigenerational Workforce, fielded November-December 2025]
• Worker usage trends: Only 16% of workers age 50 and older report using AI in their jobs to any extent as of early 2025, primarily to find information (56%), create content (34%), and analyze data (29%). [Source: How AI is Impacting the Future of Work Among Adults Age 50-Plus, fielded February-March 2025]
• The AI "Leapfrog" opportunity: Older workers are 7.2% more likely than younger peers to hold roles insulated from AI disruption (49.4% vs 42.2%), as their roles rely more on "human-centric" skills like leadership and ethics. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Tech-focused learning surge: Between 2022 and 2025, the share of tech-focused learning sessions for older workers rose from 19.5% to 26.6%, shrinking the engagement gap in tech training from 31% to less than 11%. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• AI training barriers: While 47% of older workers are interested in AI training, only 10% have actually taken an AI-related course, despite employers reporting widespread training opportunities. [Source: How AI is Impacting the Future of Work Among Adults Age 50-Plus, fielded February-March 2025]

Workplace Requirements: Flexibility, Meaning, and Money

• Financial necessity: 41% of workers age 50 and older cite needing money for basic living expenses as their primary reason for working, while 24% do not expect to ever fully retire. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]
• The flexibility mandate: Flexibility is a non-negotiable requirement for job seekers; 79% want choice in when they work and 66% want the ability to work from home at least sometimes. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Meaningful engagement: 90% of older workers require "meaningful work" before accepting a new position. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• The "work-life" priority shift: 33% of older workers report that the pandemic made them prioritize a better work-life balance over meaningful work alone. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Retirement delay factors: Among those planning to retire later than expected, 64% cite the cost of living (housing and food) and 35% cite household debt. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]
• Unretirement is a financial necessity for some:  7% of older Americans say they have returned to work from retirement in the past six months, primarily due to economic concerns. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]

Growth Mindset, Multigenerational Workforces, and Mentorship

• The retention premium: Among workers hired in June 2024, 85.4% of workers age 50 and older remained with their employer one year later, compared to just 70.6% of those under 50. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Inherent growth mindset: 79% of workers age 50 and older actively seek out opportunities to learn new skills. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Willingness to reskill: 60% of older workers are willing to learn new skills if requested by an employer, driven primarily by personal interest (34%) rather than mandatory requirements (11%). [Source: Job Reskilling and Upskilling Among the 50-Plus, fielded January-February 2022, September-October 2022, and June-July 2023]
• Bidirectional mentorship: 40% of younger workers rely on older colleagues for updates on tech trends, and 30% rely on them to help understand and integrate AI into their work, highlighting the value of mutigenerational workforces.  [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• 90% of workers age 18 and older enjoy working with people of different ages than themselves. [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• The career engine: 86% of workers who have participated in mentoring say it was vital to their professional growth. [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• Experience advantage: Older workers bring an average of 15 additional years of career experience and possess professional networks that are 20.4% larger and more senior than those of younger workers.  [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Closing the training gap: Participation in LinkedIn learning by older workers has reached near parity; in 2022, younger workers were 13.5% more likely to participate in training than older workers, but by 2025, that gap shrank to just 1.6%. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]

Age Discrimination Impedes Employment for Older Workers

• General perception: 64% of workers age 50 and older believe older workers face discrimination in the workplace today. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Commonality of bias: Among those who believe it exists, 91% believe it is common (36% very common, 55% somewhat common). [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Job search barriers: 74% of older adults believe their age would be a barrier to getting a new job (42% major barrier, 32% minor barrier). [Source: Job Change 2025, fielded October-November 2024]
• Intersectional discrimination: 72% of Black workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination in the workforce; 60% of Hispanic workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination; 63% of Asian-Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Specific instances experienced (since turning 40):

- 31% have heard negative remarks about an older co-worker’s age

- 27% did not get hired for a job they applied for because of their age

- 24% have heard negative remarks about their own older age from a colleague

- 22% were passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead

- 16% were laid off, fired, or forced out of a job because of age

[Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]

• Subtle ageism: 33% of workers have observed the subtle assumption that older employees are "less tech-savvy." [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• The "push out" effect: 22% of current workers age 50 and older feel they are being pushed out of their jobs because of their age. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Application barriers: 53% of job seekers were asked to provide their birth date or graduation date during the application process in the last two years. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• The reporting gap: While discrimination is common, only 13% of workers have ever made a formal complaint to HR or a supervisor about age discrimination. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Stronger — not weaker — age protections: Ninety percent of workers age 40 and older support efforts to strengthen the nation’s age discrimination laws. And 65% agree that Americans should not be required to provide age-related information (e.g., birth date, graduation date, etc.) on their job application or during the job interview process.  [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]

Unemployment and Financial Recovery

• The pandemic "hiring tax": Adults age 55-plus who were unemployed during the peak pandemic (2020–2021) and were still looking for work report a 62% incidence of age discrimination during their search.  [Source: 2022 Unemployment Short-Term and Long-Term, fielded June-July 2022]
• Low confidence: 53% of older job seekers do not feel confident they can find a similar job within three months. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Recovery challenges: Only 25% of older adults feel they have completely recovered financially from their most recent period of unemployment.  [Source: 2022 Unemployment Short-Term and Long-Term, fielded June-July 2022]

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