AESC Member Login
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Natasha Renton, AESC
+32 2 733 3631
nrenton@aesc.org
62% OF EXECUTIVES SAY AGE DISCRIMINATION BECOMES APPARENT AS THEY REACH THEIR 50S
Brussels, 24 October 2006 — A survey of 294 senior executives around the world reveals 62 percent say executives begin to feel age discrimination between the ages of 50 and 55 years old. The survey was conducted from September 7 — 28, 2006 by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).
Respondents were asked, "At what age do you feel that age discrimination begins to become apparent for senior executives?" Results were as follows:
Age 40 — 3.4%
Age 45 — 16%
Age 50 — 36.5%
Age 55 — 24.6%
Age 60 — 10%
Age 65 — 2%
I do not feel that age discrimination occurs among senior executives — 7.5%
According to published reports, in the European Union the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25 percent over the next two decades. In the United States the number of workers aged 55-64 will have increased by more than half by 2010.
"Corporate and personal attitudes toward older executives are not keeping up with reality, and the reality is that the workforce is aging and that executives are working past what was once considered a normal retirement age" noted Peter Felix, AESC President. "If the social and professional attitudes toward executives in their 50s and 60s does not change, we will see an increase in more senior, knowledgeable executives defecting to organisations that value their contributions — and taking their experience with them."
About The Association of Executive Search Consultants
The Association of Executive Search Consultants is the worldwide professional association for the retained executive search industry. The AESC's mission is to promote the highest professional standards in retained executive search consulting, broaden public understanding of the executive search process, and serve as an advocate for the interests of its member firms. For more information, or to download the AESC Code of Ethics and Professional Practice Guidelines, please visit www.aesc.org.