Bias against older workers hurts everyone, no matter your age. “The fact that people are being marginalized, discriminated against, discounted solely because of their age, actually costs our overall economy, which means that everyone is losing, not just the older adult,” according to Jean Accius, president & CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities and a member of the WorkingNation Advisory Board.
He argues that ageism in the workforce has a broader impact on our society than most people realize. Bias against older workers cost the U.S. economy $850 billion in 2018, according to the Longevity Economic Outlook produced by the AARP where Accius previously served as senior vice president for AARP Thought Leadership and International Affairs.
Along with discrimination against older workers, he says, there is further bias when gender and race are factored in.
“It’s a double whammy if you’re an older adult and you’re an older woman. It’s a triple whammy if you’re an older adult, an older woman, and a person of color. The U.S. cannot afford to continue to perpetuate these -isms both on a social level, both on a moral level, but also on an economic level because it stifles economic growth,” stresses Accius.
He says perceptions need to change about older adults and not treat them as though they are a monolithic group.
“There’s tremendous diversity, tremendous heterogeneity within the population. Not only is the population aging, but they’re actually living much longer,” says Accius.
“There’s tremendous opportunities to really think about how do we leverage, support, enhance, foster engagement of our older adults across the country to actually help us continue to just not grow, but also to survive and thrive.’
CHC, Creating Healthier Communities is a nonprofit that supports the work of other nonprofits with a mission to address health inequities in communities. CHC counts 1,500 nonprofit partners and works with communities, corporate partners and nonprofits to “achieve improved health outcomes, create inclusive opportunities, and support resilient communities where everyone can thrive.”
Jean Accius spoke with me on the subject of age, health, and economic wellbeing as part of the Age in America series, a collaboration between WorkingNation and Scripps News Network which began in June.
Watch a clip from our interview below.
Get more of our WorkingNation Age in America articles, videos, and podcasts here.
Get more of Scripps News’ Age in America coverage here.
