Young people are often facing difficulties when job opportunities become limited. This situation raises questions about how age influences employment prospects and what employers can do to create a fair hiring process. In my view, age does not affect job opportunities, it is because of other factors such as difference in experience and exposure to the field.
To begin with, the employment challenges that faced by young people are primarily linked to a lack of professional experience rather than age itself. Many jobs, particularly in professional or technical sectors, require a level of practical understanding that cannot be gained solely from academic study. Young individuals who are still completing or just completed their education may not have had enough exposure to real working environments, making them less competitive compared with older candidates who have accumulated both academic background and years of practical knowledge. By contrast, older workers do not usually struggle unless they lack experience or are not relevant to the specific field they are applying for. In many non-professionals job, such as couriers, staff, or factory workers, employers typically prioritise reliability and discipline over qualifications, meaning age plays an even smaller role.
Although young people face disadvantages, I do not believe employers are doing unfairly when they prioritise experience. Hiring decisions are often based on objective criteria, with skills and field-specific competencies being the most reliable indicators of job performance. Nevertheless, it is also true that some young individuals can learn exceptionally quickly and adapt to demanding environments faster than expected, as seen in cases like Kairan Quazi, who joined an aerospace engineering company as a software engineer at very young age. To balance fairness with practically, employers can implement internships and trainee programs. These initiatives allow young applicants to build experience while giving employers the opportunity to evaluate their potential before offering permanent jobs.
In conclusion, age influences employment opportunities mainly through differences in experience, exposure, and readiness for the workplace. While employer expectations are generally reasonable and based on objective requirements, offering structured training pathways can ensure that young people have fair chance to develop the skills necessary for long-term employment