Covid-19 has worsened employment conditions for midcareer job seekers, those aged 45 and older. A new report found that 37% of midcareer workers switching jobs and 50% of those seeking work say age has had a major impact on their employment status. Meanwhile, employers perceive candidates ages 45 and older as having weaker skills compared to younger candidates despite the older workers having equal or better on-the-job performance.

The report “Meeting the World’s Midcareer Challenge” was released by Generation, a global nonprofit employment organisation. The report included a survey of 3,800 employed and unemployed people as well as 1,404 hiring managers.

It focuses on workers aged 45 to 60 in seven countries — Brazil, India, Italy, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the US. It takes a particularly close look at those seeking or working in entry-level and intermediate roles with no formal post-secondary educational background and low income levels.

The report also found 71% of job seekers in this demographic reported seeing their age as a major obstacle. Those from underrepresented communities face further hurdles as they engage in 53% more interviews than their peers to land a job.

More information on the report is available online.