In the business world, there is an awkward truth: we continue to evaluate talent with obsolete paradigms. The Silver Economy —This universe of professionals over 50 who still have much to contribute – is still underestimated. And the worst is not the cultural resistance to hire them, but the decisions are still based on preconceptions, not on data.
In Alkemy, we have measured more than 10,000 skills in this population and the results are revealing: the differences between university and non -university students almost disappear with work experience, and in certain age ranges, non -university students even performed better. However, when we look at the hiring rate, the story is another: the gap remains enormous.
The problem is that we remain obsessed with academic training as a guarantee of success. In the population up to 40 years, university students have a better average performance (55%vs. 50%), but the difference in hiring is much greater than that 5%gap. That is, we continue to choose Diplomas, not on real skills. And in the case of senior professionals, this bias is even more marked.
When we analyze the soft skills, the data re -challenges our preconceived ideas. In skills such as effective communication and detail attention, Silver Economy has higher performance. And in terms of resilience and negotiation, differences with the youngest are even more pronounced. Even so, companies continue to bet mostly on young talent, although the data does not support that decision.
An area where resistance is more evident is the adoption of new technologies. But how difficult is it to train a silver in AI? The answer breaks another myth: with basic knowledge of use of PC or cell phone, in less than two hours they can use tools such as chatgpt or gemini to optimize their work. The learning curve is not an obstacle, the problem is the lack of opportunities to demonstrate it.
The challenge for companies is not only to incorporate senior talent, but to rethink their selection and training processes. The future of work is not defined by age, but by the ability to adapt, learn and provide value. And in that, the Silver Economy has a lot to teach.
The life expectancy is on the rise, and what was previously considered +50 today is completely different. We are talking about professionals with decades of experience, who still have much to contribute and that, with the right tools, can continue to add value in the world of work. Taking advantage of this talent is not only a matter of inclusion, but an intelligent strategy for any company that wants to stay competitive.
Change is not optional: it is strategic. While some companies continue to close the door to senior talent, others will capitalize on that opportunity. The question is simple: On what side of the story do you want to be?
*Jean Pierre Saint Hubert, CMO and Founder de Alkemy
By Jean Pierre Saint Hubert
