New LinkedIn France study says age discrimination is impeding talent

March 3, 2020
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LinkedIn has released the results of its 2020 Opportunity Index 2020 - a composite indicator aiming to understand the way in which economic opportunities are perceived and, more specifically, the conditions surrounding access to these opportunities. 

This study was carried out by GfK for LinkedIn with more than 30,000 people in 22 markets around the world.

According to the study, professionals worldwide want to find opportunities that allow them to pursue their passion, to have a balance between professional and personal life, and that ensure their job security. However, the general feeling is that age and a complex job market are major obstacles to accessing these professional opportunities.

Renewed optimism in an uncertain economic context for 2020

Globally, respondents are pessimistic about the state of their economy, but there are signs that this perception is changing. Although 46% of respondents believe that their economic situation has deteriorated in the 12 months preceding the study, only 40% of respondents believe that the situation will worsen in the next 12 months. In addition, this optimism is underlined by that of 45% of respondents, who think that better opportunities will be offered to them this year.

This year, assets in developing markets such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines have been most optimistic about the opportunities. Thus, driven by confidence in the economic growth potential of their country, these workers are also convinced that they will have access to interesting opportunities for them but above all that they will be able to seize them. The people of Mexico and Brazil also showed great optimism overall.

Discrimination based on age and the complexity of the job market are among the obstacles most often cited when pursuing the opportunities followed.

These results are similar to the European scores, where the main obstacles preventing working people from accessing opportunities would be their socioeconomic situation (24%), age (23%), and the obstacles of the job market (22%). 

Like their European counterparts, French workers are also showing some anxiety in the face of uncertain macroeconomic prospects, but Contrary to popular belief, French workers consider that the ability to welcome change is an essential skill for advancing life (70%).

The French consider networking as essential for access to employment (72%)

An individual's network (72%) is perceived as an even more fatalistic element than even education level (70%) or skills (64%). In addition, 57% of French workers believe that the absence or lack of a network is a difficult or very difficult obstacle to overcome, against 46% for the lack of professional experience as well as professional skills.

This barrier is less visible in Île-de-France, where access to professional networks are stronger than in the rest of the country.

This study shows that French professionals may experience difficulties in their job search linked to discrimination based on age or the lack of a professional network. We work alongside companies for more diversity in recruitment. We also want to develop actions to allow everyone, with equal skills, to have access to the best job offers and allow companies to access talents that they would not spontaneously contact but which they need. In general, it is up to each of us to create an environment that helps the active to achieve their ambitions, acquire new skills and build relationships that help them get the jobs they want.

Fabienne Arata, Country Manager, LinkedIn France

March 3, 2020

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