1 in 3 Hiring Managers Say It’s Beneficial To Avoid Hiring Gen Z, Senior Candidates

ResumeBuilder.com published a recent survey report exploring the prevalence of ageism in the workplace in 2024. The report also shares insight into hiring managers’ apprehensions regarding the employment of Gen Z or senior workers. Overall, researchers collected and analyzed responses from 1,000 hiring managers.

Based on survey findings, 42 percent of hiring managers take into account applicants’ ages when reviewing resumes. This group of hiring managers determines an applicant’s age range by examining the candidate’s years of experience, graduation year, and photo. While 60 percent of respondents say applicants should ‘always’ indicate their graduation year on their resume, 41 percent believe candidates ‘sometimes shouldn’t’ or ‘never should’ reveal this information.

“By scrutinizing education and work history timelines, employers may inadvertently introduce bias based on age, rather than focusing on the candidate’s qualifications and suitability for the role,” says Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. ”Ageism remains a prevalent issue in the workforce, affecting individuals both early and later in their careers. Regrettably, many hiring managers continue to rely on age as a determining factor in their recruitment decisions. This practice presents a significant disadvantage, as one’s age should never dictate their potential for success in a role, provided they possess the requisite skills and experience.”

Furthermore, 36 percent of hiring managers admit to having age bias against Gen Z applicants. Among this subset, 77 percent express concerns about their lack of experience, 63 percent about their propensity to change jobs frequently, and 58 percent about their perceived unprofessional attitude. Similarly, 34 percent of respondents admit to having age bias against senior candidates. Of this group, 74 percent raise concerns about their likelihood of retirement, 64 percent about their potential health issues, and 48 percent about their lack of experience with technology.