Bosses Are Firing 50 to 60 Year-Olds Left and Right (And Honestly, We See Why)

The cusp of Gen X and Baby Boomers is a challenging age for employment in this economy, and many 50- to 60-year-olds are discovering that the job security they rely on is being pulled out from under them, often unexpectedly. Approximately 25% of employees in this age demographic who have been laid off in the past decade haven't been able to secure a new job, which can make planning for retirement nearly impossible.

Learn 10 reasons why so many people in their 50s and 60s are losing their jobs.

Budget cuts

2025 has been the worst year for layoffs since 2009, and companies across all industries are cutting budgets — and jobs. "Last hired, first fired" is no longer the rule of thumb, and older employees with larger salaries are now often viewed as a quick way to reduce operating costs.

If the role gets refilled, it's often at a lower rate and with more responsibilities.

Luddite reputation

Older workers have a reputation for not being up on the latest tech, deserved or not. This isn't necessarily a fair assessment, but Gen Xers and Boomers can combat this by staying up-to-date on tech advancements in their field.

Keeping tabs on the pros and cons of new software and AI can keep you relevant in the conversation about how your employer is adapting to an ever-changing fact of life.

AI replacements

If your job isn't being taken by AI directly, it's likely to be taken by someone younger and more willing to embrace the technology that has CEOs infatuated. On a hopeful note, while we can all see why companies would like to replace paid workers with unpaid AI, it isn't actually popular among the masses and is being met with resentment.

Many predict this bubble will burst in a big and terrible way.

Ageism, but you can't call it that

Workers over the age of 40 are actually protected under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA). Employers will often look for ways to get rid of workers who will soon be eligible for pensions or other retirement benefits, and an AARP survey found that 74% of workers over the age of 50 believe their age is a barrier to being hired.

If you're worried about age discrimination, consult an employment attorney about your rights.

Manual labor

Some jobs are physically demanding, and that can increasingly be seen as a company liability as workers age. Factory work, farming, cleaning, construction, and even health care can all take heavy tolls on the body that can lead to exiting a job before planned.

Sometimes it's the body's choice, but many times employers preemptively let older workers go before it gets to that point.

Affordable specialists replacing expensive generalists

Many workplaces are opting to replace the jack-of-all-trades older workers by hiring multiple younger workers instead for a lower salary. There are potential long-term downsides to this, such as loss of cumulative industry knowledge and interdepartmental operations that are streamlined by understanding various roles.

Lack of coaching skills

Younger Boomers and older Gen Xers have been harshly critical of the younger generations as they enter the workforce, and this is coming back to bite them big time. Older workers who are able to properly coach Gen Z with thoughtfully constructed feedback, answer questions patiently, and demonstrate how individual job aspects translate into the bigger picture are more likely to maintain job security.

Loyalty entitlement attitudes

Years of "paying your dues" to get ahead don't mean much in the current employment economy. The higher-ups don't care, and the younger workers find it obnoxious to the point of quitting.

Many older workers can have the outdated mindset that those entering the workforce should sacrifice work-life balance to get ahead, just like they had to do. Millennials and Gen Z see how that has worked out and are giving it a hard pass.

Over-qualification

Gen X elders and young Boomers face a unique paradox in the workplace of being overqualified for a position, combined with a lack of senior-level positions available for promotion. Bosses think that an overqualified worker will have no trouble finding other employment, and can let good talent leave in favor of less qualified and cheaper hires.

Unfortunately, employers are also reluctant to hire candidates who are overqualified, fearing they will leave for a better position.

Obsolescence

The world has changed very quickly, and it has made some jobs (and entire career paths) obsolete. This is especially true for creative fields, but technology has spared few industries entirely. This can put 50 to 60-year-olds in the impossible spot of being too young to retire but too old to start over when their job vaporizes into nothing.

Bottom line

It doesn't actually matter how old you are; the employment landscape is a mess for everybody these days. Each generation is facing its own challenges in the workplace, but the pressure can feel extra intense for the folks facing retirement, who are still unable to get ahead financially in order to prepare.

The real takeaway is recognizing these trends early and making smart financial and career moves before it's too late.