Age-based stereotypes are prevalent in the workplace and can affect both younger and older employees. Research shows that older workers sometimes hold negative stereotypes about younger workers, viewing them as having 'work deficit characteristics' like incompetence. On the other hand, common stereotypes about older workers include being unadaptable and disagreeable.

Comparison of Age Stereotypes in the Workplace

Age Stereotype is people’s beliefs about groups based on their age. 

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•	Metasterotypes 


•	Age Stereotypes

•	The wording in job applications 

•	How the job seekers perceive it



What requirements affect job seekers? 

Koçak, A., Rooman, C., Duyck, W., & Derous, E. (2022). Mind the ad: How personality requirements affect older and younger job seekers' job attraction. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 95, 718– 737. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12396

Mind the ad: How personality requirements affect older and younger job seekers' job attraction

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Age Stereotype

Metasterotype in the workplace are negative beliefs that employees think that other groups of people believe about them in a job setting. 

Metastereotype in the workplace

The wording in job applications can affect job seekers and how they perceive the job. For example, a job application saying that they expect you to be something, rather than asking you to behave that way, can be seen as non-appealing.

Wording in job applications affects job seekers 

Metastereotypes can affect job applications because when job seekers feel that they don’t pertain to qualities or traits that they see in job ads, they are less likely to see it as something appealing or something that they are qualified for. 

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