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AGE-PROOFING AI: Enabling an intergenerational workforce to benefit from AI

Oct 15, 2024

Generation’s new research, supported by The SCAN Foundation, which included survey responses from 2,610 employees over age 45 working in entry-level and mid-level roles and 1,488 employers, explores the challenges and opportunities facing midcareer and older workers in navigating the rise of AI in the workplace.

Data reveals that many employers are missing opportunities to fully leverage AI, particularly with experienced workers. Employers surveyed anticipate a decline in entry- and mid-level hiring by 22% to 60% over the next year, which is likely to exacerbate age bias in the workforce. The survey also found hiring ageism amplified in roles that use AI, with 90% of hiring managers in the U.S. likely to consider candidates under age 35 for AI-related roles, compared to only 32% for those over age 60. Read the report to learn more about how employers, workforce programs, and older workers can approach AI in the workplace.

With the AI revolution fully underway, we are all eager to understand what the future holds for the workforce. It seems like new surveys and research on labor trends appear every day, each with a different perspective.

Much has been written about AI-driven productivity gains, and now, as businesses seek to capitalize on that opportunity, attention is turning to which workers and roles can benefit the most. This naturally raises questions about one of the fastest-growing age groups in the labor force: older and midcareer workers. How will they navigate these changes?

New Generation research in the US and Europe offers insights about how workers over the age of 45 might fare. With grant support from Google.org and The SCAN Foundation, YouGov was commissioned to survey two audiences – people age 45+ who work in entry- and midlevel roles, and hiring managers who evaluate candidates for these roles – across a range of industries and company sizes. We surveyed 2,610 employees and 1,488 employers in France, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States during May and June 2024. The survey explored the rollout and use of AI tools – specifically generative AI tools, or those capable of generating content such as text, images, video, audio,or speech.

SURVEY AUDIENCES

People age 45+ who work in entry- and mid-level roles

2,610 EMPLOYEES

Hiring managers who evaluate candidates for these roles

1,488 EMPLOYERS

The insights that emerged provide a new perspective on the midcareer and older worker experience with AI in these countries. Three things stand out:

1. EMPLOYERS PREDICT A SHARP DROP IN HIRING, A LIKELY AMPLIFIER OF AGE BIAS