Many of the 4.3 percent unemployed older workers in Idaho may feel they know exactly why they "just didn't get the job:" age discrimination. On the heels of the June jobs reports, a new AARP report, conducted by Boise-based GS Strategy Group, suggests that a majority of the nation's residents who are 50 years old and older are concerned their age could be a barrier keeping them from finding a job.

Once out of a job, it takes older workers much longer than their younger counterparts to find one. According to an AARP analysis of the jobs report, in June, the average duration of unemployment for older workers was 55.6 weeks, or more than a year, down only slightly from 56 weeks in May. For younger workers, in June, unemployment lasted 35.2 weeks, down from 38.5 weeks in May. The gap between age groups finding jobs continues to widen, with younger workers becoming employed more than 20 weeks sooner than their older counterparts in June, up two weeks from May.

"If Idahoans 50 and older are anything like their counterparts across the nation, we know age discrimination is likely something going through their minds when they receive a rejection letter to their job application," says Mark Estess, state director for AARP in Idaho.

The AARP public opinion report finds that 77 percent of the nation's residents over 50 think age would be an obstacle if they had to find a new job in the current economic climate. Based on what they've seen and heard, 64 percent of respondents think people over age 50 experience age discrimination in the workplace, while 34 percent say they've seen it firsthand.

The report also finds overwhelming support (78 percent of respondents) for bipartisan legislation to combat age discrimination in the workplace. A 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling made it more difficult for workers to prove age discrimination, changing the rules so workers had to prove age was the decisive factor as opposed to one factor, posing a higher burden of proof than other types of discrimination, such as race, sex, nationality, and religion.

The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) would change back the rules for age discrimination , the AARP says, and it's supporting the legislation.

Other findings from the AARP report:

•Sixteen percent of respondents who were retired have returned to work.

•Only 29 percent feel they are close to having enough money to retire.

•Ninety-two percent of respondents agree older Americans have to work longer to make ends meet or save money for retirement.

•Ninety-two percent feel the high cost of gas, health care, food, and housing requires many Americans to work longer to rebuild retirement savings.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that strives to help people 50 years old and older have independence, choice, and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.