The ‘Older Generation’: Why Your Workplace Shouldn’t Overlook Them
Updated 20th January 2025 | 3 min read Published 24th October 2020

The number of employees over the age of 50 leaving the workplace has risen dramatically in recent years. This scenario – partly created by the Covid-19 pandemic – means companies are faced with the loss of substantial knowledge and expertise along with significant staff shortages.
In today’s article, we discuss why experienced and older workers aged 50-70 could help empower your company, overcome skills gaps, and solve recruitment challenges, especially when recruiting for specialist and senior positions.
Why you should bring the older generation into the workplace
1. Build a reputation as an inclusive business
Do companies hire older workers? Generally speaking – and unfortunately for both the workers and their prospective employers – they don’t. Many businesses are still falling short of age-inclusiveness, so this presents an opportunity to differentiate your company from the rest.
Today, consumers increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate their commitment to real-world diversity and inclusion, with actions and not only words.
By employing older workers, your business is seen as inclusive and multi-generational, which will create a positive working environment and one that potential customers will want to interact with.
2. Support managers with expertise
Thanks to decades of workplace experience and industry knowledge, older workers can bring essential skills and expertise to their new role – as consultants, trainers, managers, and technical specialists. This accumulated experience may have been learned in contexts and scenarios to which new colleagues might not have had access. Here, their expertise and vast experience become valuable assets to current managers and executives looking to broaden their horizons.
3. Improve corporate problem-solving
Older professionals are a reliable source of core soft skills due to the communication and teamwork know-how they have accumulated throughout their careers.
These employees can make a vital contribution to crucial aspects of business, such as problem-solving, mediation, and decision making. Some of this knowledge and expertise can only be developed through consistent hands-on experience, so they can provide guidance when it’s most needed. At a time when many businesses are pressured to make important strategic decisions and younger workers don’t have the know-how or time in place this requires, older professionals offer a viable and practical solution.
Moreover, older workers can become mentors and positive role models to younger staff, which will help embed their expertise into your organisation for many years to come.
4. Bring a mature perspective to your organisation
Older workers are less likely to analyse tasks in their role from an emotional perspective, having experienced many ups and downs during their careers. This helps bring a fresh but mature perspective into your organisation, providing the counterpoint needed to bring balance to teams and departments.
Their mature approach to work also means they have a greater ability to focus and prioritise tasks. As a result, their productivity and morale levels will always remain consistent.
Your next recruitment steps
If you’re looking to expand your talent pool by targeting older professionals, IRIS Networx recruitment software will help you find the best talent for your specific requirements.
Our successful Managed Recruitment Campaigns are age-inclusive and fully tailored to the needs of every client and role. Take a look at our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Guide to learn more about the benefits of hiring older employees and working with a leading recruitment agency.