There is a growing recognition that people over the age of 50 experience discrimination in the labor market. This ground-breaking report provides new evidence that ageism and discrimination are also having devastating effects on the lives of people as young as 40, with a cost to the economy of billions per year. Why do so many "older" people who want to work find it difficult to do so? Why are employers reluctant to employ them? Is it purely the effect of discrimination and agist attitudes? Or are there some other reasons? What can and should be done to achieve change for the better in the future? Past it at 40? provides answers to these questions. It explores, in detail, the experiences of people over 40 trying to enter the labor market, including: the long-term unemployed; women returning to the work force; people with disabilities; and people still in a job but needing new skills to keep going. Employers' attitudes, policies and practices are examined, revealing a lack of awareness

Ageism at the grassroots - jobseekers' attitudes and experiences; ageism at the grassroots - employers' attitudes and experiences; being out of work - it's more complicated than you think - finance, pensions, health and housing; upskilling for working - the holistic approach; what needs to be done? - a programme for action.