{"id":15958,"date":"2026-04-15T19:42:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T00:42:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquent.com\/?p=15958"},"modified":"2026-04-15T19:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T00:42:58","slug":"beyond-ageism-why-experience-is-the-superpower-your-team-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquent.com\/en-au\/blog\/beyond-ageism-why-experience-is-the-superpower-your-team-needs","title":{"rendered":"Beyond ageism: Why experience is the superpower your team needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n
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\n Combat ageism in the workplace and unlock the “age advantage” to future-proof your teams as the Australian workforce shifts toward a multigenerational reality by 2030. <\/li>\n
\n Data debunks common ageism myths, showing that workers over 50 are tech-resilient, highly reliable, and aren't a flight risk. <\/li>\n
\n Audit your job ads for age-coded language like “digital native” and focus on specific skills and outcomes to attract experienced talent. <\/li>\n
\n Humanise the shortlisting process to prevent AI and ATS algorithms from filtering out older applicants due to non-linear career paths. <\/li>\n
\n Diverse interview panels are key to an age-inclusive journey, ensuring different perspectives are represented throughout the hiring process. <\/li>\n \n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n
As a recruiter<\/a> at Aquent, I<\/a> see firsthand how the “war for talent” is intensifying across design and technology. Yet, a massive, highly skilled talent pool is often overlooked due to one of the last “socially acceptable” prejudices that continues to reside in Australian workplaces: ageism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
The reality of Australia’s workforce is changing rapidly. By 2030, there will be more people aged 50+, with one in three Australian workers already aged over 50. Despite this, over 53% of these professionals have experienced age-based discrimination when looking for work, leaving a growing cohort of skilled workers untapped and underutilised.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
It’s time to move past the myths and embrace the age advantage of multigenerational teams.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Busting ageism myths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n\n
To build truly innovative teams, we must challenge the misconceptions that frequently hold back experienced workers:<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Myth: They aren't tech-savvy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reality:<\/strong> This is an outdated stereotype. Many workers over 50 have navigated every major workplace tech shift from typing pools to Generative AI.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Myth: They are less productive.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reality:<\/strong> Research shows older employees often demonstrate lower absenteeism, higher reliability, and stronger engagement.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Myth: They won't stay long.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reality:<\/strong> When hired in their 50s, people stay with an organisation for over 6.5 years on average.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n\n\n
3 steps to start your age-inclusive journey<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBecoming an age-inclusive employer doesn't happen by accident; it requires deliberate action. And we don’t just talk the talk when it comes to ageism, here at Aquent, we’ve partnered with APSCo Australia<\/a> and AgeInc<\/a> to become the first Age Inclusive Recruiter<\/strong><\/a> in our space. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n \n\n
In support of this, in collaboration with AgeInc, we’ve also produced an age-inclusive hiring guide, The Age Advantage<\/strong><\/a>, to help workplaces embrace age-diverse teams with actionable steps and strategies to combat ageism, gain a competitive edge, and tap into an underserved talent pool. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Here are three ways to start today:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
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Audit your job ads:<\/strong>\u00a0Remove age-coded language like “digital native” or “recent grad”. Focus on skills and outcomes rather than a specific number of years of experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Diversify your interview panels:<\/strong>\u00a0Include a mix of ages on your panels to bring different perspectives and make all candidates feel comfortable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Humanise the shortlist:<\/strong>\u00a0AI in applicant tracking systems (ATS) can sometimes filter out older applicants because of algorithmic bias toward linear career paths. Use human recruiters to audit AI-led shortlisting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Aquent's commitment to combat ageism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
At Aquent, we believe experience is a superpower, not a shortfall. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
As the first marketing, design, and tech recruiter to partner with APSCo Australia<\/a> and AgeInc<\/a> on their Age Inclusive Recruiter program<\/a>, this partnership gives our team specialised training and data to help our clients build diverse, multigenerational teams that thrive.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
The future of work is<\/strong> multigenerational. Are you ready to unlock the wealth of knowledge that experienced talent brings?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n\n\n
Let’s build a stronger, age-inclusive workforce together.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Experience is a superpower. Bust ageism in the workplace and learn the untapped advantages of an inclusive, multigenerational workforce.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[832,836],"capabilities":[],"class_list":["post-15958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diversity-equity-and-inclusion","category-hiring-insights"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t