Is Your Age The Reason You Can't Find A Job?

Are you an out-of-work 50-something who feels age is a roadblock to finding a well-paying job?

If yes, you're not alone.

A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds many people over 50 are reporting difficulty in finding work and they believe age is a big factor.

The poll found 55 percent of those 50 and older who have looked work during the past five years characterized their search as "difficult," and 43 percent thought employers were concerned about their age, according to The Associated Press's coverage of the issue.

Furthermore, poll respondents reported finding few well-paying jobs or positions that offered good benefits, and about a third of the respondents were told they were overqualified, according to The AP report.

Although long-term unemployment has been problematic among older job seekers, not all poll respondents shared a negative experience. According to the report, "43 percent of job seekers surveyed found a high demand for their skills and 31 percent said there was a high demand for their experience."

So where are the best places to look for work if you're over 50? The AARP has published its national list of the 2013 winners of the AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 award, cosponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management, a biennial program that recognizes employers with exemplary practices for recruiting and retaining mature workers. 

Although no Southwest Riverside County-based companies are on the list, there are some nearby employers that made the AARP cut. For example, San Diego-based Scripps Health is ranked second highest by the AARP, and several of the companies, organizations, and governmental agencies named on the list have local offices in or near the area.          

Are you a local employer with "exemplary practices for recruiting and retaining mature workers?" Or are you an employee who knows of a good fit for local workers over the age of 50? Share your information below for job seekers.