What's the job market like in Oz for the over 40s?

[Terry]

Hi

This is more a question for those of you already working in Oz. Just wondering if it is more difficult to find a job in Oz if you are over 40 compared with being in your 20s, 30s or are older employees still valued? Also, do employees generally stay to retirement age ie. 65 or are they "encouraged" to move on to make place for younger ones. Just trying to decide whether, if you are over 40, you should try and find a job before leaving RSA or are your chances of finding a job still good if you just arrive and then start looking for a job.

Thanks

Terry

[Enrica]

Dear Terry,

I have never been discriminated against because of my age, and in my industry I can still find employment even though I am well over 40.

I think a lot depends on what industry you are in.

Let us know and perhaps someone can answer that question for you.

Regards

Enrica

[Terry]

Hi Enrica

I am looking at the job market for accountants.

Terry

[Ajay]

Hubby and I are both over 40 and have never had a problem landing a job. I work in HR and there is a lot of pressure from the government to employ "mature age workers' (deemed to be over 45). It's a statistic that they measure and monitor...

Ajay

[zetman]

My experience has been that the trend of someone supposedly becoming less employable the older they get is an SA thing, possibly due to unemployment being so high which makes it easy to push out certain demographics because job demand outstrips supply. I've worked in both the UK and Aus and in both these countries people actively participate in the market (even making significant career changes) well into their 50s and beyond (except of course in careers of a very physical nature). With unemployment rates at below 7% Aus pretty much needs every able person that can work to contribute to the economy and people tend to work up until they choose to rather than being pushed out because of age; in Ausie terms someone in their 40s will be viewed as having at least 20 more years of good "career mileage" to contribute.

If you come over without a job you'll probably find that initially a "lack of Aus work experience" will probably count against you in interview more than your age - that doesn't neccesarrily mean you'll never find work, it might just take a bit longer.

My personal opinion.

By the way, as you probably know experienced and qualified accounts are one of the most in demand occupations accross pretty much the whole of Aus.

[Jordy]

My experience has been that the trend of someone supposedly becoming less employable the older they get is an SA thing, possibly due to unemployment being so high which makes it easy to push out certain demographics because job demand outstrips supply.

Just to add that retirement age in Aus is now 67 and not 65 in more. This is because people in Aus live much longer and so need an increased amount of super to retire on.

[HansaPlease]

I think that as an accountant many companies would see somebody in their 40's as somebody who can add great value to the company through their experience. I don't think you'll have any problems compared to somebody who's in their 30's.

40 is the new 30.

As was mentioned above, there is a slight "no Australian experience" issue that means some people have to do their time in a lower paid/lower skilled job, before being able to move up to where they were before, but that's not always the case and it has nothing to do with age.

There are still plenty of accounting jobs around.

Good luck.

[zetman]

One other related thing worth adding is that I find that the whole concept of ageing is actually different in Aus, mainly because of the higher life-expectancy and good personal safety which still allows senior (i.e. >70s) an awesome active lifestyle. People here really do seem to age well. /for example they had a guy on TV the other day that still plays full contact seniors Ausie rules football aged 72; and I was downing pints of beer with a 64 year old Ausie (twice my age ) at a birthday party last weekend (he didn't look a day older than 55!).

You also get over 45s and over 55s lifestyle villages. Resort style living estates with townhouses and villas which you can only buy into if your above that age - not for safety reasons but to allow people whose kids are leaving home to downsize and enjoy the finer things in life with others of the same age.

I'm not really an expert yet because I'm only still in my thirties but I have no doubt that Aus is where I want to grow old!

[Terry]

Thanks for your replies. It is really encouraging to hear that employees of all ages are able to play a role in the job market in Oz and are recognised for what they have to offer. I think in RSA things have gone haywire in the job market and since there doesn't seem to be more jobs being created (unless you start your own business which a lot of our friends here are having to do), there's a mad scramble for current jobs and getting these jobs depends on race, gender, age and then capability. At the end of the day you don't know where you stand anymore.

Thanks for the insight into the job market in Oz. Can't wait until that grant letter comes and can start testing the job market.

Terry

[Voortrekker]

Just wondering if it is more difficult to find a job in Oz if you are over 40 compared with being in your 20s, 30s or are older employees still valued? Also, do employees generally stay to retirement age ie. 65 or are they "encouraged" to move on to make place for younger ones. Just trying to decide whether, if you are over 40, you should try and find a job before leaving RSA or are your chances of finding a job still good if you just arrive and then start looking for a job.

Uh-hum. I think it depends.

The good news: I know that it is unlawful to discriminate on age etc in Australia. And I *think* it is even unlawful to ask a person's age in a job advertisement, application or interview. I don't put my age on my resume, and I have deleted old irrelevant jobs, so they can't guess.

The bad news: Some companies will use other language to indicate they want someone young. Eg. "We are an energetic crowd" or the like.

My experience: We have just returned to Australia after 5 years in Canada. It took me quite a while to land a job. For about half the interviews I went for, I was told things like "too senior", "too experienced", "over-qualified" even for contracting positions, and even though I could have done the job, and wanted to. Some would say that is a euphemism for "too old" or "too expensive". Why apply? I was offered interviews, and needed work. (For about the other half I was told that funding was cancelled, or budget not approved, etc). But in the end it worked out, just took a long time.

Reality: It depends on the job market. The job market is not so good now - esp for senior jobs - but getting better (except the silly season is upon us). The ACS (Australian Computer Society) recently published a survey of members' opinions. The majority over 40 claimed they were discriminated against in the job market recently. There are employment agencies that specialise on over-40s, but I haven't tried them.

Bottom line. It depends on your skills and the demand. Customise your CV for a particular job, and don't tell them you can do more than what they need.

[JennyG]

Thanks for your replies. It is really encouraging to hear that employees of all ages are able to play a role in the job market in Oz

Terry

Good to hear seeing that we are also nearing our 40's! Scary!

[Ausraven]

My two cents worth ...

You may have to accept a position that is not entirely what you want and then keep applying for the "right" job.

I was >50 when I arrived and it took me a year to get a decent job in my field of work and that was through "networking", not by responding to an advert.

My wife was ready to strap the container on her back and start swimming for Sunny South Africa, but we tightened the belt and succeeded.

I wish you all the best in your decisions.

Ausraven