Older workers’ job search: longest-held jobs and public placement channels
Distinguish age at departure from a main job and the use of public job-search channels in official data.
Updated Nov 8, 2026
The survey bases for job departure and job search
The supplementary survey for 2026.05 covered people aged 55–79. Among those who had already left their longest-held job, the average age at departure was 53.0. Among people who had looked for work in the past 1 year, public placement agencies were the most common primary channel at 41.6%.
How jobseekers used search channels
Public agencies were a prominent search channel in the survey. The centers listed on Work24 offer career assessment, transition preparation and job counseling. Comparing services can involve tracking participation alongside applications and interviews.
Channel use and the chance of being hired
The share reporting a primary channel does not measure placement success. The survey age range also differs from the full midlife group featured in the report. Evaluating the effect of support requires separate hiring and retention data by age group.
Sources
- National Data Agency | Supplementary survey on older workersAccessed Nov 8, 2026
- Work24 | Midlife career center servicesAccessed Nov 8, 2026