Malleable mindsets and supervisor support to teach old dogs new tricks

THE Ministry of Manpower recently reported that almost half (47 per cent) of Singaporeans aged 40 and above who lost their jobs were not able to find one within six months. Those below 40, however, were able to re-enter the workforce at a faster rate.

This appears to stem from the common concern among employers that it is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks - that older employees are less willing than younger ones to be trained or adapt to a new job. The fear is that when older workers are less willing to adapt to change, they may hold companies back in meeting new challenges.

In addition, ageing is often associated with a decline in cognitive abilities - the brain's ability to learn and remember skills and to problem solve. With multi-tasking now a common feature of many jobs, there is a view that older workers may be less competent in handling the demands of the workplace.