ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

Age Discrimination on the Job

Can an advertisement state that only younger workers are wanted for a job?

Not unless age is a bona fide occupational qualification. Except for this rare exception, advertisements are not allowed to exclude or discourage older workers from applying. Although courts differ as to which phrases are permissible and which are not, a general rule is that ads cannot imply that only certain age groups are wanted for the job.