Is ageism still an issue? Key takeaways from our D&I Forum - Pocket watch, sand and map - VMAGROUP

Is Ageism Still an Issue? Key Takeaways From Our D&I Forum

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Is Ageism Still an Issue? Key Takeaways From Our D&I Forum

At our latest D&I Forum, our panel have shared some inspiring thoughts and deeper insight into the often dismissed topic of age-based discrimination. We have initially launched our D&I Forum to talk about diversity, equality and inclusion, both in its broadest form, and also to pick up on some of the subjects that are not given the airtime they deserve. We hope that by facilitating the conversation, encouraging debate and recognising the issue, ageism will be as high on the agenda as other topics of this nature. 

Here are our key takeaways from the webinar. You can now watch it in full on-demand here

Kate Clark, Senior Strategic PR Professional and Founder of KCPR KateClarkPR

Women in PR has recently looked at aspects such as ethnicity and gender, and where those two intersect. However, when trying to match their offering to the needs and interests of their membership, it became apparent that ageism is a huge issue in the PR industry. 

The last PRCA Census (2020) found that the PR industry is predominantly made up of women (68%) and that the median age of employees is 38. We are in a situation where we have an ageing workforce, so we need to understand how we can retain this talent beyond this age. It is especially challenging for women, who tend to drop off at a certain age. On the other hand, there are a lot of young women who are entering the industry. To support their lifelong journey within PR, it is important to understand their feeling and perception of career opportunities within PR.

Nearly one-fifth of women expect to leave the comms industry to work in an