Apr 3, 2026
Last April, Robin Peppers Daniel received the notification she’d been dreading: in 30 minutes, she’d lose all her work access.
Then her boss called with the news. After years of working her way up to a lead control management officer role at Wells Fargo, Daniel — in her early 60s — was being laid off.
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It wasn’t her first rodeo. Daniel told Business Insider (1) she was laid off from Walmart in 2018. But this time felt different.
She’d seen the writing on the wall at Wells Fargo and had begun preparing financially for a potential layoff.
But nearly a year later, she’s still looking for a full-time job, and can’t afford to retire yet.
“I think my age might be holding me back in my job search, and that some employers view me as overqualified, given my past work experience and education,” she told Business Insider.
“As a result, I’ve been conscious of the way I present and talk about my experience level.
She’s stopped applying to jobs with more than 100 applicants. In the meantime, she’s picking up substitute teaching shifts and she and her husband have leaned into the small web-design business that they’ve run for years.
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“In a perfect world, I would retire and get out of this work rat race,” she said. “But right now, I unfortunately can’t afford to.”
Unfortunately, Daniel’s situation is increasingly common for older workers — and the data backs it up.
Age discrimination at work continues to limit older workers
Job loss at any age can be devastating. But when you’re in your late 50s or early 60s and can’t afford to retire, it can become a financial crisis.
And ageism in the workplace is often a major reason why.
A January 2026 (2) survey from AARP Research found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of workers 45 and older report experiencing age discrimination at work and nearly a quarter of workers over 50 feel like they’re being pushed out of their jobs
Getting hired later in life can be challenging: Nearly 90% of HR managers admit to age bias when hiring older workers. Applicants over 60 receive 50% fewer callbacks than their younger counterparts, according to GitNux research (3).
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Age discrimination isn’t always as overt as getting passed over for a job or being pushed out.
The AARP survey found age discrimination often shows up in subtler ways. A third of respondents (33%) said colleagues assumed they were less tech savvy, while roughly a quarter were presumed to be resistant to change.
Others reported having their accomplishments or expertise overlooked, being left out of training opportunities in favor of younger workers, or being the butt of generational jokes.
The results were nearly identical to a 2024 AARP survey — a sign that age discrimination is still an issue for older workers.
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Job searching after 50? Here’s how to navigate the market
If you are in a similar situation to Robin Peppers Daniel, there are steps you can take to improve your odds of landing a new role — and make ends meet in the meantime.
Age-proof your resume
Your resume might be signaling your age to hiring managers, which could limit your job prospects. To address that, remove your graduation dates and limit your work history to the past 10 to 15 years. Make sure to highlight accomplishments with data, not just a list of job responsibilities.
Focus on networking
Networking is one of the best ways to get hired. In 2025, 54% of U.S. workers (4) reported being hired through a personal connection, and referrals have a 40% higher (5) chance of securing a job interview compared to other candidates. Rather than firing off applications into the void, reach out to former colleagues, attend industry events, and make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and active.
Build job skills
A great way to counter age bias is to showcase how current your skills are. Take courses on newer tech like AI, machine learning, and data analysis. Free or low-cost resources like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Google’s Career Certificates can help you quickly learn new skills to add to your resume.
Show you plan to stick around
One concern employers often have about hiring older workers is that they’ll leave quickly — retire, get bored, or move on. Get ahead of that by making your enthusiasm for the role and the company clear in interviews. Emphasizing your mentorship experience and your eagerness to work alongside younger colleagues can also help interviewers see your age as an asset rather than a liability.
Consider part-time work
While on the job hunt, bridging the income gap matters. Like Robin, many workers in this situation turn to part-time or flexible work to stay afloat. Retirees with specific corporate experience can set themselves up as consultants or executive coaches, which are among the highest-paying side gigs—often ranging from $100 to $200 (6) an hour. Other options include tutoring, virtual assistant work, pet sitting, and online selling through platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon.
AARP also partners with Indeed to post part-time and remote job listings (7) geared to older workers, which is a good place to start if you’re not sure where to look.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Business Insider (1); AARP (2); GitNux (3); CPA Practice Advisor (4); Zippia (5); Kiplinger (6); Indeed (7)
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
