Nearly a third of UK workers in their 50s feel that employers are not doing enough to recruit them, according to a study by Capita Resourcing.

The study, which examined the attitudes of 1,002 workers over the age of 55, as well as 100 senior HR professionals, also showed that over a third of older workers have experienced bias towards the younger generation in the workplace, and 73% say that employers aren’t doing enough to tap into their knowledge and skills. The study also found that 94% of businesses believe that older professionals could provide the key to bridging the skills gap, but 23% said that they are actively seeking to employ people over the age of 50.

Meanwhile, the majority of older workers say that they do generally feel respected at work, however as many as one third feel side-lined, and 17% say they have been passed over for promotion because of their age.

“The UK's older working population is set to increase rapidly in the coming years, whilst at the same time the number of skilled school-leavers will continue to struggle to fill employment gaps,” Chris Merrick, director at Capita Resourcing, said. “Yet with eyes focused on technology and innovation, few businesses have older workers on their agenda, leading to a huge missed opportunity. It’s time for a recalibration of what it means to be an older worker – these employees want to be challenged, not side-lined.”

In the UK, age discrimination is covered by the 2010 Equality Act, which states that it is unlawful for employers to discriminate with applications or treat workers differently due to age.