Australians who lose their jobs after age 50 often have difficulty finding work again.
Age discrimination remains a problem in Australia and the Reserve Bank’s most aggressive rate hikes since the late 1980s are likely to cause unemployment to rise even further.
Technology is revolutionizing workplace safety, and the age of artificial intelligence is likely to favor younger workers who understand algorithms.
But white-collar recruiting agency Robert Half says older workers are surprisingly highly sought after, even in unexpected fields like technology.
Andrew Brushfield, the agency’s Asia-Pacific director, said employers often prefer older workers because of their experience and maturity.
“In fact, they are preferred to other people,” he tells me.
“They have a bank of experience, they can typically self-manage, they can look at their history and their experience and say, ‘This worked well here, this didn’t work well here,’ and they can apply their knowledge to the circumstances for which they were hired.
“The fact that they are over 50 is irrelevant to many employers.”
Australians who lose their jobs after age 50 often struggle to find another position.
There is also hope for older workers who have been laid off, as Robert Half has helped high-level job seekers find new career pathways in competitive job markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
“There’s a certain preconception that if you get laid off after age 50, you’re in trouble and you’re not going to get another job, but there are opportunities there,” Brushfield says.
Technology project managers
Brushfield says those over 50 are often sought after in the tech space despite the stereotype that older workers struggle with technology.
“Could you argue that there is some cutting-edge technology that a 55-year-old is less aware of than a 25-year-old?” “You probably could,” he says.
Andrew Brushfield, Asia-Pacific director at Robert Half, said employers often preferred older workers because of their experience and maturity.
“But for the most part, let’s assume your skills are relevant.”
Brushfield says older workers with project management skills are in particular demand as companies look to install new software programs.
“We’re seeing a huge demand for people with experience to run projects, implement those new systems or upgrade those systems,” he tells me.
Data from employment website Seek shows project managers in New South Wales earn between $130,000 and $150,000, which is significantly higher than Australia’s average full-time salary of $100,017.
There is also demand for older workers who can work on short-term contracts.
“People who have had experience running projects or implementing them earlier in their career can move on to run these projects or work on projects for six months, 12 months or 24 months,” he explains.
There are university degrees and even TAFE courses in project management for those looking to improve their skills.
Payroll officers
Workers with payroll experience can also enter a job after age 50, especially if they can demonstrate their ability to work independently with little supervision.
“It’s very risky for a company to address a topic as emotional as people’s pay, so companies often have people to monitor and control the process themselves rather than relying solely on automation,” Brushfield says.
Technology is revolutionizing workplace safety, and the era of artificial intelligence seems likely to favor younger workers who understand algorithms.
“I’m not saying the size of a payroll team, just in case, is the same as it was 20 years ago because it’s not (they’re probably smaller), but there’s definitely still a need for people with those skills.” ‘
Payroll officer jobs have average salary levels of $75,000 to $90,000, and people in this role often study accounting at university or complete a diploma in payroll services.
office administration
Mature-aged workers with secretarial skills are often preferred for office administrative positions, which cover everything from human resources to personal assistants.
They are also considered less fickle, making them more trustworthy in handling sensitive corporate information.
Executive assistants earn average salaries of $95,000 to $115,000, and professionals complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration for this position.
Customer service jobs
Retail establishments are struggling to hire customer service officers as there are fewer European tourists on work visas since Australia reopened in 2021.
This means that the workforce for this type of work is smaller than before the pandemic.
“It’s very, very difficult to find good customer service people,” Brushfield says.
“While we’re getting a lot of immigration, what we’re not seeing yet is the influx of twenty-something travelers who historically have done a lot of customer service work for us; those types of people haven’t returned to levels that we’re seeing the demand being met. demand”.
Brushfield says people over 50 are often sought after in the tech space because their project management skills come in handy.
Older workers are considered especially suitable because of their enthusiasm compared to younger workers.
“Those over 50 are very welcome because they value the work, they want it and they are happy to do it,” Mr Brushfield tells me.
“We’re finding that seniors’ true strength is customer service because they have years of experience dealing with people and, very often, have more persistence and commitment.”
While this is a lower-paid sector, the median full-time salary of $75,634 would be adequate for an older worker who has paid off their mortgage.
tax accountants
Brushfield says tax accountants of all ages are in demand.
“Those over 50 have those skills in their pockets,” he explains.
“They can do it when they are available because the current legislation in 2024 is not drastically different than the legislation in 2014 or 2004.”
In Sydney, accountants have average salaries of $75,000 to $90,000, and those in this profession have a degree in accounting.