Skip to main content
  • Foundation
  • Executive network
  • CEO Circle
  • SHRM Business
  • Linkage Logo
  • Store
  • Sign In
  • Account
    • My Account
    • Logout
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
SHRM
About
Book a Speaker
Join Today
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
  • Membership
  • Certification
    Certification

    Smiling asian student studying in library with laptop books doing online research for coursework, making notes for essay homework assignment, online education e-learning concept
    Get Certified!

    Be recognized as an HR leader with your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential.

    • How to Get Certified

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. No other HR certification compares.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Details and Fees
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me
      • Certification FAQs
    • Prepare for the Exam

      Give yourself the best chance to pass your SHRM certification exam.

      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      • Study Aids & Add-ons
    • Recertification

      Recertify your SHRM Credentials before your end date!

      • Specialty Credentials
      • Qualifications
      Certification Portal
  • Topics & Tools
    Topics & Tools

    Stay up to date with workplace news and leverage our vast library of resources to streamline day-to-day HR tasks.

    The white house in washington, dc.
    Executive Order Impact Zone

    Do not abandon, but evaluate and evolve. It is about legal, equal opportunity for all.

    • News & Trends

      Follow breaking news and emerging workplace trends.

      Legal & Compliance

      Stay informed on workplace legal updates and their impacts.

      From the Workplace

      Explore diverse perspectives from your peers on today's workplaces.

      Flagships

      Get curated collections of podcasts, videos, articles, and more produced by SHRM.

    • HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      SEE ALL
      SHRM Research
    • Tools & Samples

      Access member resources and tools to streamline HR tasks.

      • Forms & Checklists
      • How-To Guides
      • Interactive Tools
      • Job Descriptions
      • Policies
      • Toolkits
      SEE ALL
      Ask an Advisor
  • Events & Education
    Events & Education

    SHRM25 in San Diego, June 29 - July 2, 2025
    Join us for SHRM25 in San Diego

    Register for the World’s Largest HR Conference being held on June 29 - July 2, 2025

    • Events
      • SHRM25
      • The AI+HI Project 2025
      • INCLUSION 2025
      • Talent 2026
      • Linkage Institute 2025
      SEE ALL
      Webinars
    • Educational Programs

      Designed and delivered by HR experts to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to drive lasting change in the workplace.

      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance credibility among peers and employers.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

    • Team Training & Development

      Customized training programs unique to your organization’s needs.

  • Business Solutions
  • Advocacy
    Advocacy

    Make your voice heard on public policy issues impacting the workplace.

    Advocacy
    SHRM's President & CEO testifies to Congress on "The State of American Education"
    • Policy Areas
      • Workforce Development
      • Workplace Inclusion
      • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
      • Workplace Governance
      • Workplace Health Care
      • Workplace Immigration
      State Affairs

      SHRM advances policy solutions in state legislatures nationwide.

      Global Policy

      SHRM is the go-to for global HR leaders and businesses on workplace matters.

    • Advocacy Team (A-Team)

      SHRM’s A-Team is a key member benefit, giving you the tools, insights, and opportunities to shape workplace policy and drive real impact.

      Take Action

      Urge lawmakers to support policies that create lasting, positive change.

      Advocacy & Legislative Resources

      Access SHRM’s curated policy materials and content.

    • SHRM-Led Coalitions
      • Generation Cares
      • The Section 127 Coalition
      • Learn More & Partner with SHRM Government Affairs
  • Community
    Community

    Woman raising hand in group
    Find a SHRM Chapter

    Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

    • Chapters

      Find local connections from over 607 chapters and state councils and create your personalized HR network.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      SHRM Northern California

      Join SHRM members in the greater San Francisco Bay area for local events and networking.

    • Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      • Membership Advisory Council
      • Regional Councils
    • Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

      • Volunteer Leader Resource Center
Close
  • Membership
  • Certification
    back
    Certification
    Smiling asian student studying in library with laptop books doing online research for coursework, making notes for essay homework assignment, online education e-learning concept
    Get Certified!

    Be recognized as an HR leader with your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential.

    • How to Get Certified

      Demonstrate your ability to apply HR principles to real-life situations. No other HR certification compares.

      • How to Get Certified
      • Eligibility Criteria
      • Exam Details and Fees
      • SHRM-CP
      • SHRM-SCP
      • Which Certification is Best for Me
      • Certification FAQs
    • Prepare for the Exam

      Give yourself the best chance to pass your SHRM certification exam.

      • Exam Preparation
      • SHRM BASK
      • SHRM Learning System
      • Instructor-Led Learning
      • Self-Study
      • Study Aids & Add-ons
    • Recertification

      Recertify your SHRM Credentials before your end date!

      • Specialty Credentials
      • Qualifications
      Certification Portal
  • Topics & Tools
    back
    Topics & Tools

    Stay up to date with workplace news and leverage our vast library of resources to streamline day-to-day HR tasks.

    The white house in washington, dc.
    Executive Order Impact Zone

    Do not abandon, but evaluate and evolve. It is about legal, equal opportunity for all.

    • News & Trends

      Follow breaking news and emerging workplace trends.

      Legal & Compliance

      Stay informed on workplace legal updates and their impacts.

      From the Workplace

      Explore diverse perspectives from your peers on today's workplaces.

      Flagships

      Get curated collections of podcasts, videos, articles, and more produced by SHRM.

    • HR Topics
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Civility at Work
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Inclusion & Diversity
      • Talent Acquisition
      • Workplace Technology
      • Workplace Violence Prevention
      SEE ALL
      SHRM Research
    • Tools & Samples

      Access member resources and tools to streamline HR tasks.

      • Forms & Checklists
      • How-To Guides
      • Interactive Tools
      • Job Descriptions
      • Policies
      • Toolkits
      SEE ALL
      Ask an Advisor
  • Events & Education
    back
    Events & Education
    SHRM25 in San Diego, June 29 - July 2, 2025
    Join us for SHRM25 in San Diego

    Register for the World’s Largest HR Conference being held on June 29 - July 2, 2025

    • Events
      • SHRM25
      • The AI+HI Project 2025
      • INCLUSION 2025
      • Talent 2026
      • Linkage Institute 2025
      SEE ALL
      Webinars
    • Educational Programs

      Designed and delivered by HR experts to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to drive lasting change in the workplace.

      Specialty Credentials

      Demonstrate targeted competence and enhance credibility among peers and employers.

      Qualifications

      Gain a deeper understanding and develop critical skills.

    • Team Training & Development

      Customized training programs unique to your organization’s needs.

  • Business Solutions
  • Advocacy
    back
    Advocacy

    Make your voice heard on public policy issues impacting the workplace.

    Advocacy
    SHRM's President & CEO testifies to Congress on "The State of American Education"
    • Policy Areas
      • Workforce Development
      • Workplace Inclusion
      • Workplace Flexibility & Leave
      • Workplace Governance
      • Workplace Health Care
      • Workplace Immigration
      State Affairs

      SHRM advances policy solutions in state legislatures nationwide.

      Global Policy

      SHRM is the go-to for global HR leaders and businesses on workplace matters.

    • Advocacy Team (A-Team)

      SHRM’s A-Team is a key member benefit, giving you the tools, insights, and opportunities to shape workplace policy and drive real impact.

      Take Action

      Urge lawmakers to support policies that create lasting, positive change.

      Advocacy & Legislative Resources

      Access SHRM’s curated policy materials and content.

    • SHRM-Led Coalitions
      • Generation Cares
      • The Section 127 Coalition
      • Learn More & Partner with SHRM Government Affairs
  • Community
    back
    Community
    Woman raising hand in group
    Find a SHRM Chapter

    Easily find a local professional or student chapter in your area.

    • Chapters

      Find local connections from over 607 chapters and state councils and create your personalized HR network.

      SHRM Connect

      Post polls, get crowdsourced answers to your questions and network with other HR professionals online.

      SHRM Northern California

      Join SHRM members in the greater San Francisco Bay area for local events and networking.

    • Membership Councils

      Learn about SHRM's five regional councils and the Membership Advisory Council (MAC).

      • Membership Advisory Council
      • Regional Councils
    • Volunteers

      Learn about volunteer opportunities with SHRM.

      • Volunteer Leader Resource Center
Join Today
Renew
Rejoin Now
Renew
  • Store
    • Global
    • India
    • MENA
  • About
  • Book a Speaker
  • Foundation
  • Executive network
  • CEO Circle
  • SHRM Business
  • Linkage Logo
SHRM
Sign In
  • Account
    • My Account
    • Logout
Close

  1. Topics & Tools
  2. Workplace News & Trends
  3. Inclusion & Diversity
  4. Report: Getting Hired Tougher for Older Entry-Level and Midcareer Workers
Share
  • Linked In
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus convallis sem tellus, vitae egestas felis vestibule ut.


Error message details.

Copy button
Reuse Permissions

Request permission to republish or redistribute SHRM content and materials.


Learn More
News

Report: Getting Hired Tougher for Older Entry-Level and Midcareer Workers

August 31, 2021

A woman wearing a face mask sitting in a waiting room.


​People age 45 and older are finding it increasingly difficult to get an entry- or intermediate-level job, despite employers' complaints that they cannot find qualified workers, according to a recent report, Meeting the World's Midcareer Moment.

And for individuals from underrepresented communities, getting a job offer is more difficult than it is for their peers, the report said. On average, job seekers from minority groups have to work harder to get a job offer, attending 53 percent more interviews than their peers.

People age 45 and older who are midcareer make up a consistently high percentage of those experiencing long-term unemployment over the past six years in some countries.

In Spain, people in this population group are unemployed an average of 25 weeks. In Canada and the U.S., it's an average of 27 weeks—almost seven months. Older job seekers also are more likely to be unemployed for longer than a year (63 percent versus 36 percent of those ages 18 to 34).

The findings are from a survey of 3,800 employed and unemployed individuals and 1,404 hiring managers conducted for Generation, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that provides job training and placement. Respondents were from Brazil, India, Italy, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. They included job seekers, job switchers and hiring managers:

  • Seekers were people, including young adults, who were unemployed, employed less than 30 hours per week or caregivers looking for full-time work.
  • Switchers were midcareer individuals employed in entry- or intermediate-level jobs who had successfully changed professions in the last three years.
  • Hiring managers were those who recruited entry- or intermediate-level candidates at least three times in the last year and had hired a midcareer switcher in the last three years.

Job Requirements 

One might think older workers would have more work experience, but only 18 percent of the hiring managers surveyed agreed. A majority, 58 percent, rated candidates ages 35 to 44 as having more experience. Hiring managers see job seekers in this age range as having the "relevant education, salient prior work and the right technical skills for the job"; strong behavioral skills; and "a persona that suits the dynamics of the team, the culture of the workplace and the industry in general," the report found.

Candidates in this age group were "much more often seen as the most application-ready group," according to the report, with well-prepared documents and portfolios, good referrals, and strong interview skills.

Twenty-four percent of hiring managers rated candidates ages 18 to 34 as more experienced than the other two age groups.

Hiring managers think older candidates have poor skills and are less adaptable, the research found. However, employers' perceptions change when asked to rate, by age range, the overall job performance of people they have hired: 87 percent said the older workers are as good as or better than younger employees.

One reason for the disconnect between perception of older workers and how they perform on the job may be because "like often connects with like," researchers suggested in the report. Among the hiring managers surveyed, a higher percentage were in the 35 to 44 age group, "which could make them inclined to regard peers their own age in general as more suitable and competent colleagues."

Formal Education and Experience 

A stumbling block to employment is employers' requirement for job seekers to have a college education: 44 percent of large employers require a bachelor's degree for entry-level roles, and 65 percent expect that for people applying for intermediate positions.

Among small companies, 33 percent require an undergraduate degree and 41 percent require prior experience for entry-level jobs.

India and the U.S. are the most demanding among countries surveyed, Generation found. Employers in these countries prefer applicants with previous experience and education for many positions they want to fill.

Requiring a college degree hinders Black workers' earnings and career advancement, SHRM Online reported in 2020. Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July 2020 directing the federal government to assess an applicant's job skills and remove the emphasis on possessing a college degree. 

"It's critical to have conversations about the recognition of experiential learning," said Jill Buban, Ph.D., vice president and general manager of EdAssist Solutions at Bright Horizons, an education management provider based in Newton, Mass.

"While a 45- to 60-year-old employee may not have a degree, oftentimes the knowledge they've gained on the job and through life experiences equates to academic learning," Buban explained. "Institutions like Western Governor's University, SUNY [State University of New York] Empire State College, University of Maryland Global Campus and others have been assessing this type of learner for decades. There are a lot of great institutions and organizations that are influencing this work, and I suspect we'll see more and more flexibility around the college degree being a necessity for entry-level jobs."

Some employers also are now requiring work experience for entry-level positions and putting candidates through more screenings—including skills and personality tests—than they did one to two years ago. This is especially true for tech roles, the report noted.

"Experience is a funny thing," Buban observed. "There are biases against younger employees with a lot of relevant experience where the thought is they shouldn't get paid as much because of their age. The opposite is also true, … thinking [older workers] may want more money due to their age but perhaps not [have the] relevant experience; this may be most true in STEM-related careers."

SHRM Resource Hub Page
Skills Gap & Workforce Readiness

Some organizations are switching to a skills-based or competency requirement rather than an education requirement, in some cases starting with positions that are most difficult to fill, SHRM Online has reported. And companies such as BlackRock, Gap, and Wayfair are participating in LinkedIn's Skills Path program. The program identifies core skills for open roles and then matches qualified candidates based on candidates' proficiencies. 

Training

Training is the key to making a midcareer job switch, job seekers said, with three-fourths of individuals ages 45 to 60 crediting professional development with their ability to land a new entry-level job. Overall, in-person or vocational training was the most popular way these individuals developed new skills, closely followed by informal learning. Online courses, whether they led to certifications or not, and employer-provided training were less popular.

But job seekers said they made many compromises in order to make a career switch:

  • 30 percent took a job in an industry different from one they wanted to work in.
  • 29 percent lowered their salary expectations.
  • 24 percent accepted a lower-level starting position.
  • 18 percent accepted a temporary job.
Switchers with higher incomes, the survey found, tend to pursue training that results in a degree or certification, which employers often view as a substitute for job experience, and those candidates are almost twice as likely to get job offers than peers who don't get training beyond a high school education.

Older job seekers who most need training are the most hesitant to pursue it, Generation found. And for someone struggling to meet basic needs, "training could be seen as a luxury, … [which] makes it hard to justify spending time and effort on something that offers only a potential return on investment," according to the report.

Many employers are offering direct tuition payments—rather than reimbursement—on behalf of their employees because they recognize that affordability is a major barrier to pursuing education, Buban said.

Starting a degree program can seem daunting to some employees, though, she noted. She suggested employers offer coaching and mentoring that allow for one-on-one connections, and opportunities to allow workers to earn micro-credentials toward certification. This "can help the employee envision their future career path" and give them the confidence to pursue other training.

It's also important, Buban said, for employers to show employees how advancing their education can benefit their career within the company. 

[Want to learn more? Join us at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2021, taking place Sept. 9-12 in Las Vegas and virtually.]

Global Mindset
Talent Acquisition

Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

​An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.



Related Content

Kelly Dobbs Bunting speaks onstage at SHRM24
(opens in a new tab)
News
Why AI+HI Is Essential to Compliance

HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.

(opens in a new tab)
News
A 4-Day Workweek? AI-Fueled Efficiencies Could Make It Happen

The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.

(opens in a new tab)
News
How One Company Uses Digital Tools to Boost Employee Well-Being

Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.

HR Daily Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest HR news, trends, and expert advice each business day.

Success title

Success caption

Manage Subscriptions
  • About SHRM
  • Careers at SHRM
  • Press Room
  • Contact SHRM
  • Book a SHRM Executive Speaker
  • Advertise with Us
  • Partner with Us
  • Copyright & Permissions
  • Post a Job
  • Find an HR Job
Follow Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • SHRM Newsletters
  • Ask An Advisor

© 2025 SHRM. All Rights Reserved

SHRM provides content as a service to its readers and members. It does not offer legal advice, and cannot guarantee the accuracy or suitability of its content for a particular purpose. Disclaimer


  1. Privacy Policy

  2. Terms of Use

  3. Accessibility

Join SHRM for Exclusive Access to Member Content

SHRM Members enjoy unlimited access to articles and exclusive member resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Limit Reached

Get unlimited access to articles and member-exclusive resources.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join to access unlimited articles and member-only resources.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join the Executive Network and enjoy unlimited content.

Already a member?
Free Article
Exclusive Executive-Level Content

This content is for the SHRM Executive Network and Executive Content Subscription members only.

You've reached the limit of 1 free article this month. Join and enjoy unlimited access to SHRM Executive Network Content.

Already a member?
Unlock Your Career with SHRM Membership

Please enjoy this free resource! Join SHRM for unlimited access to exclusive articles and tools.

Already a member?

Your membership is almost expired! Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew now

Your membership has expired. Renew today for unlimited access to member content.

Renew Now

Your Executive Network membership is nearing its expiration. Renew now to maintain access.

Renew Now

Your membership has expired. Renew your Executive Network benefits today.

Renew Now