London, UK. June 10th 2025 — A new report by People Insight, Ageism at Work: Are Older Employees Being Left Behind?, reveals a pattern of disengagement and disillusionment among older employees, particularly men, that may challenge long-held assumptions about workplace support and development. While much of the public conversation has centred on younger employees being overlooked, the data suggests the opposite may be true, with younger workers often receiving more recognition, feedback and investment in their growth.
The findings are based on over 547,000 employee data points collected across sectors, giving deep insight into the experience of different generations in the workplace. This scale of analysis provides a rare view into how engagement, support and recognition shift with age, and how these trends vary between men and women. Employers may believe they are balancing the needs of a multigenerational workforce, but the data paints a more complex picture.
The report shows that younger employees are more likely to receive regular feedback, praise and opportunities for growth. For example:
- 73% of employees aged 18 to 29 say they have sufficient training and growth prospects, compared to just 59% of those aged 50 to 59.
- Feedback levels follow a similar pattern, with only 55% of workers over 60 reporting they receive praise for their work, versus 70% of 18 to 29-year-olds.
This disparity is not limited to professional development. Older workers are also less likely to feel aligned with their organisation’s purpose or well supported in terms of wellbeing. As wellbeing programmes increasingly focus on areas like mental health and flexibility, older employees may find their needs, such as physical health support and retirement planning, are being overlooked.
Despite this, older workers show strong loyalty to their employers, with 77% of 50 to 59-year-olds saying they intend to stay with their company for the next two years, compared to 57% of employees aged 18 to 29. This loyalty, however, does not always translate into higher engagement.
Tom Debenham, Managing Director at People Insight, says:
“Every employee deserves an experience that motivates and inspires them. We hope this data prompts employers to reflect, listen and act, making their workplaces genuinely inclusive for all generations.”
Download your copy of the report here:
ENDS