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Age discrimination in the hiring process is real, and you may even be able to spot it the next time you look at job listings.
There are some phrases and language that signal age bias, according to a new report recently distributed by the National Bureau of Economic Research. They may mention physical ability, such as lifting a specific amount of weight, or specify computer programs, like Microsoft Word, to discriminate against older workers, said Patrick Button, a professor at Tulane University and an author of the report. These ads may also say the job requires working certain shifts or “must have reliable transportation.” Different language is used for different types of jobs and whether the applicant is a male or female.
“We don’t find that any language related to positive stereotypes is linked to a reduction in age discrimination,” Button said. Positive stereotypes about older workers include being more careful and dependable, and sometimes being more experienced. “Perhaps people in general surveys will say nice things about older workers, but employers don’t act on those positive stereotypes in the hiring process.”
See: Age discrimination is still a major obstacle for older workers
Proving age discrimination on the job can be difficult, but it’s even harder to do during the hiring process — it’s not as clear under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. Employers may say they simply decided to go with another candidate or, if the applicant didn’t get that far, just not reach out after receiving an application.
High-profile companies were accused of using social media techniques to exclude older workers from their job ads, according to a 2017 ProPublica and New York Times investigation. “If this trend increases, then this may lead to increased age discrimination by ensuring that fewer older workers apply,” he said. “And by preventing older workers from applying in the first place, age discrimination is harder to detect because it just doesn’t look like older workers applied.”
Also see: You’ll never live to be 150 and other things to know about aging in America
Age discrimination in the workplace may look like an older worker being overlooked for a manager position, or colleagues commenting on the employee’s physical or cognitive abilities. Other examples of bias in the job application include asking for high school graduate dates or touting a “fun, party atmosphere.”
Legislators are attempting to step in and fix this issue. A bipartisan proposal earlier this year would allow the victim — in this case, an older worker that lost her job — to provide “admissible evidence,” or anything that shows age discrimination. The proposal, called the “Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act,” would not require the party to demonstrate age was the sole reason for a demotion or dismissal.
Still, older workers should still apply, Button said — and they can use these particular phrases to their advantage. “Since our results show that discrimination based on stereotypes around physical ability, communication skills and technological skills predict age discrimination, it may help older job applicants to highlight these skills in their applications,” he said.
