Episode 333 - Workforce participation drops sharply after 45, despite strong demand for experienced talent. In this episode, we explore the structural barriers, age bias, and outdated career models holding professionals back, and what individuals, employers, and governments can do to better support longer, more productive working lives.

We have all fallen in love with NASA's crew for its Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in more than half a century. What stood out to me was the composition of the team. Every astronaut selected was Generation Xer, in their 40s and 50s.

When the stakes are high, we do not default to youth. We choose experience. That's what NASA did . They choose judgment. They choose people who have navigated complexity before and can do so again under pressure.

And yet, in the labour market, we continue to behave as if the opposite were true.

This contradiction sits at the heart of what has been described as the “longevity paradox”: We are living longer, healthier lives, but participating less in the workforce as we age. For the corporate professionals I work with, this is not an abstract concept. It is a lived experience, often emerging in their mid-40s and becoming more pronounced thereafter.

This issue has become more personal for me recently. At the age of 54, I have just become a grandmother. It has prompted a different kind of reflection about time, work, and what the next decades should look like. Like many of my clients, I am not thinking about slowing down. I am thinking about how to work in a way that is sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with the realities of a longer life.

The question is whether our institutions are prepared to support that.

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Timestamps to guide your listening:

• 00:00 Introduction to the Longevity Economy Paradox
• 06:14 Understanding Workforce Participation and Aging
• 09:02 Personal Experiences with Career Transitions
• 12:09 The Role of Technology and AI in the Workforce
• 15:22 Challenges of Ageism in Recruitment
• 18:09 Strategies for Job Seekers Over 50
• 21:23 The Importance of Networking and Community Support
• 24:16 Midlife Career Checkup: Questions to Reflect On
• 26:57 Final Thoughts and Action Steps for Listeners

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Michele Lemmens' LinkedIn
• Rebecca Hall's LinkedIn

About the host, Renata Bernarde

Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. 

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