Ageism is alive and well in IT according to a survey released this week, although mounting evidence suggests the UK is suffering a severe skills shortage in the sector.
The survey, commissioned by the Employers Forum on Age and Silicon.com, and carried out by the European Information Technology Observatory and IDC, polled 1,400 IT professionals. Two thirds said they were worried they would be too old to employ by 45. A quarter said at 40 IT workers were classified as "older workers" with some thinking the moniker could be applied as early as 35.
The survey also indicated that the government, which has been trying to promote equal employment for all ages with a Voluntary Code of Practice in recent months, is failing to get its message across within the IT sector. The majority of respondents said they were unaware of the program and also thought the government should be doing more to prevent age discrimination.
The figures will undoubtedly frustrate those keen to see investment in IT. An industry report in August found that eight out of ten IT managers now see recruitment as one of their three top problems.
