Age Discrimination With the average age of U.S. worker steadily rising, more than half the workforce is projected to age 40 or older in a few years. Yet some employers find it less expensive to hire and retain younger workers, who generally have lower medical bills as well as lower salary and benefits packages. At the same time, many older workers have training and skills that younger workers have yet to acquire. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of (ADEA) protects individuals who are age 40 or older, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age denial of benefit to older employees.