Professional Experience: A Real Capital for Older Workers?

Several recent studies show that the experience of old workers is hardly taken into account in skill & job management practises. Based on research carried out in fifteen companies, we point out some 'objective' explanations for this phenomenon: technological progress makes some skills obsolete & some Human Management Resources practises reduce the interest of experience. Nevertheless, this 'objective' explanation goes along with negative representations of old workers. Moreover, the habits of older workers' management are not lead by the will to preserve jobs for them. Finally, we question the notion of experience. Experience is often reduced to the amount of technological know-how, acquired in prescribed work. All of these explanations tend to attribute a low value to older workers experience but also to consider the latter as an obstacle to preserve their job. Adapted from the source document.