The Diversity Issue Silicon Valley Isn't Trying To Fix: Age Discrimination (medium.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The tech industry has recognized it isn't as welcoming to women or minorities as it should be, and is loudly taking steps to solve that issue. Major companies are now releasing diversity reports to highlight their efforts. But as Stephen Levy points out, none of them seem interested in doing something about a different diversity issue that's been pervading Silicon Valley for years: age discrimination. He says, "One company, Payscale, does supply some estimates. Looking at its numbers in 2012, Payscale noted, 'The typical tech employee wasn't around for the original release of Star Wars. And as of last year, the average age at Google was 30; at Facebook, 28; LinkedIn, 29, and Apple, 31. In comparison, the average age in more traditional tech industries like data processing or web publishing was almost 10 years higher than Silicon Valley/Internet firms. In my view, age information should be included in those diversity reports, to underline the need for change— and, even more important, those in charge of company cultures should view age diversity as a plus. Right now, that's not happening."

Comments

It's not discrimination if people aren't applying

[Anonymous Coward]

If your number of women employed is 10%, and your number of women applying compared to men is 10%, what's the problem? Are we saying that women should get hired just because they're women? And that's ignoring the skill level of the applicants and assuming they're equal.

As for the age problem, well, younger people work longer hours for less money. They don't have pesky requests like more time for family and more money to match their experience.