Older people are five times more likely to be out of work after two years than younger people under 25, according to the National Institute for Statistics, which released unemployment figures on Thursday.

The number of unemployed (aged 15-74) in July 2023 was 455,400 people, having increased compared to the corresponding period last year (452,700 people), the INS reports. The unemployment rate in July was 5.5%, slightly lower than in previous months.

Of the total number of unemployed, a little more than a third are 35-49 years old, about 22% are 15-24 years old, the same number are 50+, and the difference (21%) is 25 years old. 34 years old

With the exception of the over-50s, across all age groups, most people wait about 6-11 months before getting a new job. For people over 50, the duration of unemployment is more than two years. There are also those who find themselves after a month of waiting, but such cases are few (4%). “Fat” (almost a third) have been waiting for a new employer for two years.

This transition from short-term unemployment to long-term unemployment is depressing for a person who has worked continuously for 30 years and suddenly finds himself being ignored. According to statistics, more than 100,000 Romanians are in this situation.

Some find themselves in a situation of early retirement in anticipation of something they did not want and could not afford, labor market experts say.

Marian Ionescu is one of these unemployed people who are over 50 years old. He worked as a driver, but the boss preferred to hire a guy who works for much less money. “If we were in America, I could sue him for age discrimination. My experience and driving skills are not comparable to those of children. But we are in Romania, not in the Americans,” says Mr. Ionescu, who decided to become a taxi driver to earn a living.

On the other hand, employers say that those over 50 have trouble implementing digital solutions and that, in addition to high salaries, they will have to invest in courses and training for them. “Or if I hire a young digital resident, I’ve decided my part of life,” says the HoReCa entrepreneur.

“As for why people over 50 have been hit so hard by the pandemic, we understand that it is more because they are less likely to return to work than because they have jobs that are particularly dangerous,” she added.

Health is also an issue: In June/July, the IFS found that workers aged 54 and over with a disability or health condition were 34 percentage points more likely to worry about workplace safety than those without.