Ageism is alive and well.

[Rorschach]

Ageism still alive and well in IT
Date February 9, 2015
Sylvia Penningon

With the new year now well underway, prospects are not looking up for out-of-work older technology professionals hoping the jobs market will pick up steam.

While recruiters began flagging a modest recovery for the long depressed sector a year ago, those in the know say older workers are at the back of the queue when new roles are advertised.

Ageism is still alive and well in the high-tech sector in 2015, according to Australian Computer Society president Brenda Aynsley.

She says ICT workers who find themselves out of work are up against it once they turn 45, with recruiters who control a large slice of the jobs market typically favouring younger candidates.

The Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency's ICT Workforce Study of 2013 noted the participation of mature workers in the ICT sector was lower than the national average for all occupations.Prime working age was reported to be as narrow as 25 to 35 years, compared with 25 to 54 years for all occupations.

Ambition Technology managing director Andy Cross says age-ism isn't a problem for those who remain on the ICT jobs merry-go-round, even up to their early 60s.

But for workers who've jumped or been pushed off for a significant period "lack of currency is exacerbated by your date of birth", Cross says.

"There's a hidden prejudice that your time out of the workforce has eroded your career currency and you'll just not be able to pick up what's been going on over the past six, 12, 18 months."

Being dismissed as overly experienced can be a major impediment for candidates who've worked their way up to management level, Cross believes.

"What happens when they break from employment and try to get back, the opportunities are not as forthcoming because people aren't prepared to make an investment in someone who hasn't worked through the lower echelons of their specific organisation," Cross says.

"To say it's not a problem for aged workers to get a role in IT is just not true – their significant experience is not given the credit it deserves in a discipline that favours new, young, innovative, creative and energetic."

But Peoplebank chief executive Peter Acheson says he's seen some change in the past five years, as more organisations become open to the notion of choosing a greybeard over a greenhorn.

Older ICT workers can improve their chances by appearing "demonstrably open to change", Acheson says.

"There's a risk that someone who gained their skills decades ago could become too tightly linked to redundant technology so you need to be able to show that you've worked on a variety of projects, you've demonstrated flexibility and are embracing new platforms."

The ACS runs reskilling and mentoring programs in several states and encourages members to keep their skills current with at least 30 hours a year of professional development.

Contract roles and self employment can be the best options for older techies struggling to find a permanent gig, Aynsley says.

Online employment marketplace OneShift says the number of casual roles on offer is on the rise. The site has seen a three-fold increase in ICT jobs advertised on the site in January, compared with average monthly figures last year.

OneShift founder Gen George believes the future is looking brighter for mature workers and she's put her money where her mouth is – the site recently acquired Adage, a jobs board for seniors.

Are you an over-45s IT pro who's struggling to find a role? Share your experience in the comments.

Well that last little bit is just bulldust, but the rest was definitely correct...

[mellie]

This concerns me Roach, my son is studying IT at uni, (he's into his 2nd year), and there aren't too many jobs about even for the young, much less young at heart.

Our government needs to stop importing foreign labour, charity begins at home.

Or will we see our first generation of IT graduates redundant before they have even graduated.

[mantra]

It's not helping much that the government is considering outsourcing some large government departments - ATO and Human Resources. You are lucky these days when you phone any business - whether government or private that you get to speak to an Australian. Unemployment is at a 12 year high and I would think a lot higher than the 6.5% they claim.

[mantra]

To say it's not a problem for aged workers to get a role in IT is just not true – their significant experience is not given the credit it deserves in a discipline that favours new, young, innovative, creative and energetic."

Even these young, innovative, creative and energetic young people are often bereft of experience which stops them getting work and the younger qualified people are also desperate and grateful for any menial work they can pick up. The government used to employ young uni leavers for training, but they don't even do that anymore. It doesn't seem to matter what age you are anymore - you're still going to have problems finding work.

[mellie]

It's not helping much that the government is considering outsourcing some large government departments - ATO and Human Resources. You are lucky these days when you phone any business - whether government or private that you get to speak to an Australian. Unemployment is at a 12 year high and I would think a lot higher than the 6.5% they claim.

I boycott any phone call conversation whereby I cant understand the individual I am speaking to.

It's one thing to make the workforce competitive, but our government are rendering it downright unfair.


How about we outsource our Government.....

Would they like it?

[mantra]

As racist as this sounds - I have no patience left with workers from foreign call centres unless they're extremely polite and have a reasonable grasp of English, but even that's not enough sometimes to stop me terminating their call abruptly.

Roach asked for proof from me last week about the incentive for corporations to employ foreign workers in the NT at a 10% cheaper rate than Australia's standard wage. This is it - so when will the other states demand the same? What dangerous labour shortage is the government talking about when 200 plus Australians apply for every job advertised.

EMPLOYERS will be able to hire foreign workers on salaries up to 10 per cent below standard rates for skilled migrants under a new federal government plan to ease dangerous ­labour shortages.

Staring down union fears over imported labour, the federal government will allow employers to seek lower pay rates and easier language tests for foreign workers who can meet an urgent demand for skills in regions that are losing staff.

The new rules were signed off this week and are set to be applied in Darwin and then offered to other areas suffering an exodus of skilled workers rushing to join mining and gas companies.

Dozens of job categories will be covered so communities can bring in childcare workers, disability carers, mechanics, bricklayers, ­office managers, carpenters, chefs, nurses and many others.

Employers of all sizes will be able to sponsor overseas staff on wages that are up to 10 per cent below the usual rates set for 457 skilled worker visas, using a new kind of migration agreement for areas under stress.

The Australian can also reveal that concessions on skills and qualifications will be considered if companies prove they desperately need the foreign workers because they cannot find the same skills ­locally.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 7040705100

[mellie]

As racist as this sounds - I have no patience left with workers from foreign call centres unless they're extremely polite and have a reasonable grasp of English, but even that's not enough sometimes to stop me terminating their call abruptly.

Roach demanded proof from me last week about the incentive for corporations to employ foreign workers in the NT at a 10% cheaper rate than Australia's standard wage. This is it - so when will the other states demand the same? What dangerous labour shortages?

EMPLOYERS will be able to hire foreign workers on salaries up to 10 per cent below standard rates for skilled migrants under a new federal government plan to ease dangerous ­labour shortages.

Staring down union fears over imported labour, the federal government will allow employers to seek lower pay rates and easier language tests for foreign workers who can meet an urgent demand for skills in regions that are losing staff.

The new rules were signed off this week and are set to be applied in Darwin and then offered to other areas suffering an exodus of skilled workers rushing to join mining and gas companies.

Dozens of job categories will be covered so communities can bring in childcare workers, disability carers, mechanics, bricklayers, ­office managers, carpenters, chefs, nurses and many others.

Employers of all sizes will be able to sponsor overseas staff on wages that are up to 10 per cent below the usual rates set for 457 skilled worker visas, using a new kind of migration agreement for areas under stress.

The Australian can also reveal that concessions on skills and qualifications will be considered if companies prove they desperately need the foreign workers because they cannot find the same skills ­locally.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 7040705100

Meanwhile Taxpayers will bear the burden of the terminally unemployed here in Australia because our government sees fit to import foreign labour.

[mantra]

How about we outsource our Government.....

We'd definitely attract a higher calibre of people if we privatised the government.

[mellie]

How about we outsource our Government.....

We'd definitely attract a higher calibre of people if we privatised the government.

Lets see how they like it.

[Rorschach]

As racist as this sounds - I have no patience left with workers from foreign call centres unless they're extremely polite and have a reasonable grasp of English, but even that's not enough sometimes to stop me terminating their call abruptly.

Roach asked for proof from me last week about the incentive for corporations to employ foreign workers in the NT at a 10% cheaper rate than Australia's standard wage. This is it - so when will the other states demand the same? What dangerous labour shortage is the government talking about when 200 plus Australians apply for every job advertised.

EMPLOYERS will be able to hire foreign workers on salaries up to 10 per cent below standard rates for skilled migrants under a new federal government plan to ease dangerous ­labour shortages.

Staring down union fears over imported labour, the federal government will allow employers to seek lower pay rates and easier language tests for foreign workers who can meet an urgent demand for skills in regions that are losing staff.

The new rules were signed off this week and are set to be applied in Darwin and then offered to other areas suffering an exodus of skilled workers rushing to join mining and gas companies.

Dozens of job categories will be covered so communities can bring in childcare workers, disability carers, mechanics, bricklayers, ­office managers, carpenters, chefs, nurses and many others.

Employers of all sizes will be able to sponsor overseas staff on wages that are up to 10 per cent below the usual rates set for 457 skilled worker visas, using a new kind of migration agreement for areas under stress.

The Australian can also reveal that concessions on skills and qualifications will be considered if companies prove they desperately need the foreign workers because they cannot find the same skills ­locally.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 7040705100

A plan is not a legislated act now is it mantra...