Learn or leave the market

50+
The benefits
of being
in the labor market
Why is a mature em
ployee sometimes a m
uch better 
fit than a young on
e? You might not re
alize that there 
are a lot of benefit
s to being over 50 t
hat can put you 
at an advantage ov
er your younger co
unterparts. Here 
are a few of your k
ey advantages:
By the time people a
re in their forties, m
ost will already have 
teenage children. Em
ployers won’t have t
o worry about you 
suddenly taking a s
ick day to care for y
our child or going 
on maternity leave.
You are also unlikel
y to have to take yo
ur children to vari-
ous activities or sch
ool, which means th
at you’re less likely 
to be late, will seldo
m take the day off, a
nd can easily focus 
on work without be
ing distracted by th
oughts like “Where 
can I buy the cheap
est school uniform?
” 
You are not searchin
g for a life partner, y
ou probably already 
have a family, and y
ou are likely well es
tablished in your life 
and routine. Theref
ore, you’ll find the m
ost value in your 
work, and it’ll serve a
s your primary moti
vation. And moti-
vated employees ar
e the best employee
s.

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 Chapter 6. How to Stay Sharp After Fifty.
104
Employees over 50 are more disciplined and predictable 
(in a good way). You probably have a well-maintained 
schedule and daily routine. You know exactly how many 
hours you need to get enough sleep, and will always arrive 
at work refreshed and well-rested. You are unlikely to go out
clubbing the night before work and show up with a raging 
hangover, and you probably won’t get fined for falling
asleep at work. 
All self-respecting people who reach maturity take care 
of their health, maintain a balanced lifestyle, and do not 
smoke or abuse alcohol. Therefore, mature people are less 
likely to take sick leave and will plan their schedules accord-
ing to the needs of the company. 
Like any mature person, you view the world differently. 
For example, you are likely to be more accepting of others 
and won’t see issues as simply black and white. You 
might be more empathic and find it easier to get along 
with others; you are able to analyze a situation, prevent 
conflicts, and offer sage advice. A person like this will be 
indispensable in any team, especially with mostly young 
people, where employees are often impulsive or stubborn.

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How to Stay Sharp After Fifty. Chapter 6.
Money is still important in your fifties, but relationships 
with your team, stability in the company, social security, 
and the opportunity to share your experiences with some-
one else are equally valued. And since today’s companies 
rely so heavily on human capital, these kinds of employees 
are valued above all others. 
You have a wealth of experience, both professional and 
personal, that have left you well-equipped to face any 
difficulty. You take responsibility and make decisions where 
others get lost in the details. 
Many mature people actually enjoy going to work. They 
take time to choose a good outfit and apply make-up, 
and will be completely and consciously immersed in their 
work from the moment they step out of the house. If you 
know how to enjoy work, your team and superiors will truly 
appreciate the positive atmosphere that you bring to the 
office.
Your high level of competence will be more than enough 
to make up for your reluctance to take risks or slower pace 
of thought. According to studies, most people experience 
declining cognitive abilities after the age of 30. However,
their knowledge and experience continue to grow even 
after they reach 80. And it is that knowledge that is the key 
to productive work. Indeed, history is replete with exam-
ples where curiosity and enthusiasm helped people get 
a university degree at an advanced age. Intelligence has 
no age limits.

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 Chapter 6. How to Stay Sharp After Fifty.
Most successful entrepreneurs are matu
re people. Contrary 
to the popular belief that young people a
re driving prog-
ress, it is the experienced and older indiv
iduals who are 
more successful in business. People ove
r 40 are 3 times 
more likely to set up a successful compa
ny because 
they strive to cooperate rather than sho
w off their skills, 
as is often the case with young entrepre
neurs.
Employers value cognitive diversity in a t
eam. The best 
way to improve team effectiveness is b
y increasing the level 
of diversity. To do this, team members s
hould come from 
different cultures and be of different age
s. This was proven 
by a Deloitte study that found that age d
iversity increases 
the level of psychological safety in a t
eam. Such teams also 
embrace innovation more willingly than t
eams without 
a diversity of age.

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How to Stay Sharp After Fifty. Chapter 6.
107
It was also revealed that working retired people aged 50 to 65 have 
certain advantages compared to the work of their younger competitors: 
it turns out that older salespeople are more patient. For this reason, 
customers more often prefer to deal with them, even in online sales 
and call centers. The same goes for landlords, who speak highly about 
people over the age of 60 more than about any other age group.
There is also a growing demand for sports instructors for the seniors. 
For retired people, it will be easier to turn to a peer who understands 
their physical condition, since many cannot trust their health and body 
to someone who is younger than they are. The best guides that can lead 
older people into the modern world are other older people.
Despite the fact that this trend is called “population aging” and, accord-
ing to European studies, it could soon lead to a new economic reces-
sion, older people are making a huge contribution to the development 
of all industries. It is generally accepted that older people are less effi-
cient and productive than their younger competitors, but they are still 
a valuable resource for a progressive economy. After all, you won’t find 
such a combination of experience, skills, and understanding of how 
our world works anywhere else. For this reason, even the labor market, 
which used to be focused exclusively on the younger generation, is now 
changing in order to fully realize the potential of retired people. But 
if you do not want to readjust to the needs of the labor market, it’s time 
to think about starting your own business!