In an era where adaptability is a prized workplace skill, few cohorts can claim a longer, or more proven, track record than workers in their 50s. Often unfairly labelled as tech-averse or slow to adapt, these professionals have in fact weathered, learned, and mastered every major technological revolution of the past four decades. Far from being slow to adapt, no generation has ever had to master more change in their workplace than those currently in their 50s.
From the hum of the electric typewriter to generative AI chatbots, people in their 50s have not only kept up, they’ve led the way. So, why does the myth of people in this cohort being tech averse persist?
Those born in the early 70s and before began their careers when the typing pool was still a fixture of office life, and word processing was a specialised skill. They watched the transition from typewriters to desktop computers, mastering early software like WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3. Learning to navigate rudimentary interfaces, manual formatting, and floppy disks required a patience that laid the foundation for future tech adaptation.
By the very late 1990s, personal computers had arrived on every desk, bringing with them email. For workers, this was their next major shift, and they embraced it. They went from memos to Outlook, from hand-drawn presentations to PowerPoint decks, all while balancing the demands of a rapidly digitising workplace.
This was also the dawn of internet access in business and the generation that is now 50+ was the first to navigate and manage both the web and the dot com boom and bust!
By the 2000s, portability entered the picture. Early mobile phones and laptops enabled a more mobile workforce. These workers were early adopters of devices like the Blackberry, learning to juggle emails, calendars, and SMS while on the move. They lived through, and adapted to, the explosion of productivity tools that followed, from cloud storage to digital project management systems.
The iPhone launched in 2007, ushering in a new world of apps, touchscreens, and always-on connectivity. Those currently in their 50s were already well into their careers, yet once again, they adapted. They learned how to network through LinkedIn, manage brand presence on social media, and collaborate using cloud-based platforms like Google Drive.
This new, mobile technology promised to free workers from their desks and change the 9-5 concept. It did, making the 9-5 working week a 24/7 working culture, as laptops and mobile devices ensured you were always accessible. Ironically, it took a pandemic to bring to life the freedom promised in the early 2000s. Pre-2007 the concept of a right to disengage would never have crossed anyone’s mind, because as soon as you left the building you were disengaged!
In 2020, the global shift to remote work forced organisations to adapt practically overnight. Those in their 50s were again at the coalface, quickly mastering virtual collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack. They adjusted to remote leadership, digital workflows, and new cybersecurity protocols, proving their capacity for rapid and meaningful change under pressure.
Today, the workplace is entering a new phase with the rise of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation. And once again, it is workers in their 50s who are showing they’re ready to learn. From experimenting with ChatGPT to upskilling in data literacy and prompting, more experienced professionals are curious, engaged, and keen to make AI work for their roles and industries.
Despite their track record, people in their 50s are often excluded from tech-forward roles due to the outdated assumption that they cannot change and are not experienced with new tech. The irony of course, is that no other generation in the workforce today has had to learn, unlearn, and relearn so consistently over such a long career span.
As we enter an age of even faster technological change, it’s time to reframe how we see older professionals. They are not digital outsiders; they are digital veterans. Their depth of experience and capacity to adapt makes them uniquely positioned to bridge the past and future of work.
They’ve adapted before, they’re adapting now, and they’ll keep adapting, not because they have to, but because that’s what they’ve always done.
Comments