Most Europeans believe the economic crisis will bring more discrimination in the job market due to age, disability and ethnicity, a survey suggests.
The Eurobarometer survey carried out in the 27 EU states and three EU candidate countries found that personal experience of discrimination remained stable, with 16% reporting it on the basis of race, religion, age, or disability.
It showed that 64% of respondents expected the economic downturn would lead to more age discrimination when it came to finding jobs, compared to 58% last year.
‘Opinions about the extent of discrimination on the grounds of age have turned around in the course of a single year,’ the survey said. ‘The economic crisis is the driving factor behind this shift in opinion.’
Overall, the survey found that ethnic discrimination was still seen to be the most widespread form at 61%. However, this had remained stable.
At the same time, there was a four percentage point fall in perception of discrimination based on sexual orientation and of three percentage points for that based on religion.
The survey said expectations of more age discrimination in the job market could reflect rising unemployment among young people in many EU countries.
The Eurobarometer survey interviewed 26,756 people in 30 European countries between 29 May and 14 June.
