Nine in 10 IT professionals think the sector discriminates on grounds of age, according to research from IT and telecommunications recruiter Greythorn.

The research shows that 75% of IT professionals think the industry discriminates against the over 50s. 

Elsewhere, while seven out of every 10 IT professionals feel either “secure” or “very secure” in their jobs, just three in 10 workers over the age of 50 feel the same way. Meanwhile, only one in 20 IT professionals said they felt “very insecure” in their role, almost three in 20 IT professionals over the age of 50 felt the same way. 

Paul Winchester, managing director of Greythorn, says: “In professions such as law or accountancy an employee is considered better at his or her job when they have built up a body of experience and knowledge in a certain area. 

“But in IT, age is not necessarily perceived as an asset. Some people over 50 think they are unpopular with current and future employers because of the perception that experienced people cannot adapt to new technologies. 

“This poses questions for the industry. Yes, Generation Y have grown up with web 2.0 et al – but does that really give them an edge? Is it worth losing the in-depth knowledge, man-management skills and experience of the over 50s in the pursuit of youth?”