When you reach 60 years of age no matter what experience you possess rarely does an employer want you.

Why?

I remember the late media mogul Desmond Seales telling me that the only way he can get employed now he is OVER 55 is to be the owner of the company.

He is right.

I am 70 and if I weren’t the Editor of iNews Cayman I would not have a job with anyone else.

No matter what experience you have there is this psychological barrier in the large majority of employers’ minds that you are unemployable.

On the website: My Job Thoughts (http://www.myjobthoughts.com/right-or-wrong-if-you-are-50-nobody-will-hire-you-anymore/) it says:

“Whilst prejudices say that 50+ workers are less flexible or tech savvy and more often on sick-leave, statistics show that older employees have in fact a much lower sick-leave level and are 5 times more loyal than their peer group in their twenties.

“Regarding performance, an OECD survey concluded that verbal skills, communication and intelligence remain unchanged as a person ages. And it has been proven that 50+ are more efficient than their younger “competitors” when it comes to problem solving, people management and good judgment.

“The fastest growing group of Internet users is over age 50. According to a recent Harvard University study, the ability to use an accumulated body of knowledge keeps rising throughout the lifetimes of healthy people. Older employees have more skills and are more experienced which leads to better quality and better decision-making.

“Regarding innovation, a Harvard University and Babson College study supports the statement that age-diversified work groups enhance innovation. And – this was a happy surprise for me – the largest and most successful group of new entrepreneurs are over age 50, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity!

“It is worse, though, if you are a school leaver with no experience.

“According to the US bureau of labor statistics, employment of workers 60 and over increased 101 percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total employment (16 and over) from 1977 to 2007. It is a fact that in many countries such as USA, Canada and most European countries, the unemployment rate of 50+ professionals is 30% lower than the one of entry-level candidates.”

Now if I was an American, was in my mid-50’s, I would be a perfect candidate to become President, 27 out of the 44 presidents were in their mid 50’s at inauguration with a dozen around 50.

But at 70?

Yes. There is still hope. Here is a list of the World’s 10 oldest leaders:

ROBERT MUGABE, 84, president of Zimbabwe, 28 years in power

KING ABDULLAH , 84, king of Saudi Arabia, 12 years in power

GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA, 83, prime minister of Nepal, two current years in power

ABDOULAYE WADE, 81, president of Senegal, eight years in power

HOSNI MUBARAK, 79, president of Egypt, 26 years in power

SHEIKH SABAH AL AHMAD AL SABAH, 78, emir of Kuwait, five years in power

RAUL CASTRO, 76, president of Cuba, two years in power, including unofficially

MWAI KIBAKI, 76, president of Kenya, five years in power

MANMOHAN SINGH, 75, prime minister of India, four years in power

THAN SHWE, 75, chair of Burma’s military junta, 16 years in power

AND …..

COLIN G. WILSON, 70, Editor-in-Chief, iNews Cayman.