An Empirical Study of Managers’ Intention to Hire Older Workers

The study tested a modified Theory of Planned Behaviour model with an added variable of past experience to predict managers’ intention to hire older workers. Surveyed locations were the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional data was collected via personal administered questionnaires surveys (n=468). A response rate of 78% (M=59.6%; F=40.4%) was recorded. Models and hypotheses testing were performed using SEM-PLS.
Values from internal consistency reliability tests indicated all values were accepted and demonstrated a high level of reliability. Convergent and discriminant validities were well established. Both tolerance and VIF values suggested no potential collinearity problem. The modified model accounted R2=0.377. The findings suggested that the antecedents and intention were related and that the 3 hypotheses (H1, H2, and H3) were supported.
The empirical result derived is expected to bring awareness to business organizations on the benefits of a diversified workforce, a better understanding on the effects of attitudes, subjective norms and past experience on managers’ intention when hiring older workers. Relevant public policy makers are able to, from the outcome of the study, formulate and implement workplace good practices to help prolong older workers work life, which in turn would greatly relief the Government from financial burden due to unemployed older workers. In addition, the result further encourages more future research to enrich the body of knowledge of Malaysian research literature on ageing workforce.