Almost a fifth of young workers have been made to feel self-conscious about their age while at work or going about their daily life, research has revealed.
A study of 981 adults by the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) found age was the top issue of concern for the under 20s – a far greater concern than gender, race or religion.
The research also found that one in five adults aged under 20 had been put off applying for a job because of their age – more than any other group (just 7% of 40-year-olds felt this way).
Rachel Krys, director of the EFA, said, “Employers must recruit and engage young people and our research shows that this group, more than any other group is feeling alienated from the workplace.
“The next generation of employees requires a new approach. Employers have to evolve to understand, motivate and develop the skills of this group – they can’t afford to ignore any age group.”
The results also revealed that 19% of people found the attitudes, bad behaviour and violence of young people to be specifically offensive.
Employers have a vital role to play in increasing the appeal of work to young people, Krys added.
