Laid-Off Workers 50 to 65 Face 24% Jobless Rate as Gen X Takes 11% Pay Cuts

1 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jul 4

24% of Americans aged 50 to 65 who were laid off at least once over the past decade failed to find a new job, according to a 2025 WSJ analysis of Boston College retirement data.
Gen X workers dominate that group, and even those who were rehired often fared worse: 11% took pay cuts, while workers aged 55 to 64 were unemployed for 26 weeks on average versus 19 weeks for ages 25 to 34.
14% of people in that age band were laid off once in the past 10 years and 4% more than once, as employers favor younger workers and competition intensifies for a limited pool of senior roles.
81% of Gen X workers say their job does not pay enough to make them feel financially secure, leaving many unable to retire even as ageism, weaker recognition at work and stalled promotions squeeze earnings.