7 out of 10 Australian employers reject applicants based on age, health, and disability according to a new report

The Australian HR Institute (AHRI) released its March Quarter 2026 Australian Work Outlook, in which they conducted a survey of over 600 business leaders and senior human resources decision-makers.

The Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) surveyed over 600 business leaders and senior HR decision-makers, discovering that many employers admitted to excluding or intentionally not hiring applicants based on their age, health, or disability. Credit: Pexels / Cottonbro Studio

Key Points

• Nearly 70% of employers admitted to excluding or intentionally rejecting applicants due to specific personal characteristics.
• These include those with a history of mental illness (32%), serious illness (28%), disability (19%), and workers aged 55 and above (19%).
• Sarah McCann-Bartlett, CEO of AHRI, warned that avoiding certain groups of applicants poses a risk to the economy. In the face of an aging population and a target to create one million jobs over the next five years, she emphasized the need to expand the "talent pool" instead of limiting it.

LISTEN TO

7 sa 10 employer sa Australia tinatanggihan ang mga aplikante base sa edad, kalusugan at kapansanan ayon sa bagong ulat

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