PhD Study : An investigation and comparison of age based discrimination in employment.

Summary

A large employment gap is arising in the UK from an ageing population, caused by longer life expectancy, lower birth rates and the decision of many to retire as early as possible; it is likely that a future reduction in European migrant labour due to the UK’s impending exit from the European Union will not being able to compensate for this. There is an organisational and national benefit to extending the working lives of employees, either by retaining/retraining them or recruiting those currently out of work. Age discrimination is both widespread and costly to organisations, and marketing & recruitment efforts could help reduce it, address the employment gap, extend working lives, increase the tax base and reduce the stress on pensions and health services. A study in 2017 indicated a possible low level of age diversity in the careers marketing of the UK Top 100 FTSE organisations’ web pages, possibly representing an indirect discriminatory barrier to older people in the recruitment process. The study also indicated that organisations were considering the gender and racial diversity of their staff when advertising more than age.

This project would consist of three stages. Firstly to replicate and bolster the 2017 study by using a larger sample with more criteria to match against such as:

*Are the adverts in print/physical media as well as online?

*The diversity employments stats of the companies themselves, for comparison.

*The role types that older staff are portrayed to be working (e.g. executive, secretarial, manual)

*Not just comparing the age, gender and racial diversity but also looking at the rate of intersectional diversity.

The second stage of the research would be an in-depth look into organisations with different approaches to age employment – both in terms of retention and recruitment. This would ideally be done whilst also considering the geographical differences in age employment between for example, NI and SE England (NI has the largest emerging age employment gap in the UK).

This study would investigate how organisations’ practices and policies impact age employment for example, reskilling, retaining, job design changes, working environment changes and working hour changes.Finally the study would conduct a holistic age employment comparison between the UK (NI in particular) with other countries with higher age participation i.e. Sweden and Iceland, comparing the impacts of factors on the age employment gap such as:Organisational Culture/Practices including marketing, recruitment, retraining etc.Government regulations/interventions includingIncentives for organisations to retain and retrainPension/ retirement standardsNational historical culture and societyOverall economic prosperity

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living