Age Discrimination in the US Labor Market

Population aging in the United States creates a public policy imperative to lengthen work lives. Age discrimination-especially in hiring-can create demand-side barriers to achieving this goal. This article reviews indirect and direct evidence of age discrimination in the U.S. labor market. A good deal of indirect evidence points to discrimination against older workers, and a growing body of direct, experimental evidence shows age discrimination in hiring, particularly for older women. Stronger age-discrimination laws like those adopted in some states may help, but other changes are likely needed.