Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Band 9 IELTS essay sample
Some companies employ young, middle aged and old people. Whether this is advantageous or disadvantageous depends on the nature of their work. Startups, especially, those in the field of technology will benefit more from a young workforce whereas in industries where experience is more valuable than energy, it is better to have middle aged or senior employees.
Young employees are more tech-savvy. They are brimming with energy and can think out of the box. They can come up with innovative solutions to problems. Hence, they are more valuable in the field of technology. Needless to say, companies in the IT sector tend to employ more young people. They will have a few seniors in managerial positions but much of their workforce is made up of young people. If they employ too many people in their 40s or 50s, it will affect their ability to innovate. Consequently, they will suffer loss. Conversely, in sectors where experience is more important, middle aged or old employees are considered more valuable. For example, sectors like education and healthcare tend to employ more seniors. Few people want to consult a young and inexperienced doctor. While hospitals and schools will also have lot of young employees, those people usually occupy lower positions. They are also less likely to constitute a major chunk of their workforce.
There are also some companies that employ people of all ages in equal measure. Sometimes, this is due to a legal obligation. Sometimes, it is their choice. In my opinion, as long as they choose the right people for each job, they are unlikely to land in trouble just because they employ people of different ages. Most companies require a variety of skills to succeed. For example, their front end requires a young workforce that can interact more effectively with their customers. Likewise, their technical team will need tech-savvy youngsters whereas their management will need experienced senior employees.
In short, there is no harm in employing people of different ages as long as companies can find people with the right skill set for each job. Even so, for companies that thrive on innovation, it is more advantageous to have a young workforce. If they have an equal proportion of young, middle aged and old employees, innovation will take a hit and they will suffer losses. Hence, I believe that while hiring employees, companies should consider their skill sets rather than their age.
