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AgeismHard Times for Job-Hunting BoomersPosted by: Anti-Ageism Task ForceApril 19, 2009— The unemployment rate in March of 2009 for workers ages 45 and over was 6.4 percent, the highest since at least 1948, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking unemployment on a monthly basis. And workers ages 45 and over remain unemployed longer, 22.2 weeks, as compared with 16.2 weeks for younger workers. The New York Times, in an article titled "Longer Unemployment for Those 45 and Older" reports that "Many out-of-work baby boomers have despaired as they wonder whether to trim their résumés to avoid giving away their decades of work experience, or to dye their hair." However, as reported in our last Ageism in America post, many are fighting back instead, with age discrimination claims at a walloping 29% in 2008 over the year before, double the rate of overall employment discrimination complaints. Many laid-off boomers, having just reached executive-level status with corresponding salaries, find that they now must lower their expectations and accept jobs with lower wages, caught at an age where they need to support not only college-age children, but elderly parents with little income. Others are, sadly, going through their retirement savings, or even losing their homes. In a follow-up blog post to the Times article, titled "Older Workers Need Not Apply" , six experts gave their candid, and often unexpected, views on why older workers are less likely to be hired than younger ones, and readers shared hundreds of comments. We'd love to hear yours! Click below, or in the box above, to start or join the conversation. Back
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Out of Work 2 years ago at age 59 for 3.4 months
By Unknown on Jun 07 2009 at 10:08 PM
Sorry, folks it is really about how one views his or her self and then present the total picture to the outside world. I've been blessed or cursed with looking young and acting younger than what old folks are suppose to. And, I don't die my hair but then I was born with a silver streak in my one curl when I was born in 1948. For my 13th birthday my present was to die my hair a sold color which I did up until my late forties and hairdresser said to stop dieing my hair and I did and have never looked back. I am confident about my appearance....wearing a dress size 7/8 with no huge stomach and a bounce in my step. Sure there things that don't come as easy for my physcially as when I was much younger but hey, that is okay, moderation is the key but also, I am blessed with reasonably great health and aging as when an adventure and a journey of discovery.
The brain, our command center and our relationship with God and self play an enormous role in the aging process. We can age with pain and disappointment or with grace and, most of the time, joy! Oh, yes, forgiveness also plays a part, forgive ourselves and others then move on to living life because what ever has happend that we call bad cannot be undo or unwritten in our life memories but we can move on and balance the good with the bad stuff. It really is that simple folks and realistic!
Face creams to look younger, hair die to look younger and now brain experieces to keep the brain younger but no one is talking about the thoughts and emotional pain of most older folks that makes them age beyond their years.
I love life, I love me and most importantely, I love God.
Thanks and I hope this helps someone who reads it.