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Despite the shortage of skilled workers, many employees over the age of 50 lose their jobs.
The job market has dried up. Finding a job is easier than it used to be. This now has a paradoxical effect: Older employees are no longer treated with care – they are dismissed without a word in the event of reorganization.
So far, anyone who lays off over 50s risks negative headlines and damage to their reputation. However, this seems to bother companies in Switzerland less and less.
An evaluation shows that the termination rate for over 50s is significantly higher than for the other age groups. Pascal Scheiwiller (49) is CEO of the outplacement consultant Von Rundstedt. He attributes the dwindling sympathy for the over-50s to the current low unemployment rate of 2.2 percent. “Apparently, the many vacancies mean that employers are no longer worried about those affected.”
“I applied 250 times”
It sounds quite different with those directly affected. For example with HR manager Thomas Liedtke (59) from Erlenbach ZH. “I’ve already applied 200 to 250 times.” In vain, he says to Blick. There are just no endless jobs, especially not for employees his age.
But he has by no means lost hope, he says to Blick. “Such situations are simply part of life today.” And: “I still do clerical jobs with my left hand.” He also applied to be a teacher. “In the end it was said that you need them.” He could also imagine working in the healthcare sector.
In short: Liedtke is far from resigned. He currently works a 60 percent part-time job for a security service. “Sure, I feel depressed at times,” he says. But emphasizes: “I won’t let it get me down!”
Age guillotine for over 50s
From reality back to the study: According to the calculation, 39 percent of all layoffs concern over 50-year-olds. In the previous year, the rate was still 31 percent. “Relatively speaking, many more people over 50 are laid off,” concludes Scheiwiller. This proves that the old age guillotine is still a fact, even if it is being pushed up due to the shortage of skilled workers.
The good news: Older employees find a new job more easily thanks to the shortage of skilled workers. According to the evaluation, people over 50 are currently looking for a new job for 6.1 months. Just two years ago, looking for a job took an average of 8.3 months.
More than 5 months job search
However, this does not hide the fact that older employees continue to find it much more difficult than younger employees to find a new job. Across all age groups, the job search currently only takes 5.2 months.
However: If you look at the evaluation not for the whole of 2022, but in more detail, a trend reversal is emerging: In the second half of 2022, von Rundstedt registered more job cuts and restructuring. “There will be more layoffs again in the near future,” predicts Scheiwiller.
This is due to the gloomy economic prospects. However, one does not have to reckon with a sharp rise in unemployment for a long time, but rather with a normalization on the labor market.