It is becoming the biggest single issue in employment circles, as a staggering number of people over 50 complain they can't find work, and those that do have jobs worry they'll be shown the door.

So why is the experience of older workers being ignored?

In every aspect of life, age discrimination is the fastest growing issue facing this country.

• Job hunters put to the test
• Bullied workers' shatter lives
• Disrespecting our elders

But it's on the job where age discrimination is having its most devastating and costly side effects.

It's a sad indictment of our obsession with youth that in a country which prides itself on giving everyone a fair go, a new survey has found workers over 50 are getting a raw deal.

John Brogden is the chief executive officer of the Financial Services Council who instigated the study into Australia's age-skewed workplaces.

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“The survey that we did indicates that three out of ten older workers are discriminated against in the workplace," Brogden said.

"The figures show that the bulk of the discrimination tends to happen to men in their mid-fifties, in middle management, earning around $70,000 per year."

In a population of 22.8 million, more than a third are now older than 45. But they're becoming the forgotten Australians, and now the victims of more redundancies, harassment, and sackings than ever before in the workplace.

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"I think it's a number of things. It's a general view that we've taken: we've decided that younger workers - their youth, and energy ,and enthusiasm, have a greater value than the experience and skills and wisdom of older workers, and I think that is very short sighted," Brogden said.

Heidi Holmes is one Gen Y-er fighting for mature workers.

"It's relevant now. It's an issue affecting many Australians, as this is the fastest growing labour market segment - the 45 to 55 plus," Holmes said.

She has set up an online one-stop shop Australia's leading job's board for over 50s, and companies looking for experienced hands, and business is exploding.

"In terms of growth, we have seen our database grow from 1,000 people at the start of last year, to over 12,000 now, and growing constantly at 30 per cent," Holmes said.

David Bickett is yet another casualty of age discrimination. According to the business world, he's been thrown on the employment scrap heap, and you wouldn't blame him if he just gave up.

A sales and marketing specialist who has worked around the world, Bickett can't find a job back home.

One place age discrimination is being held at bay is Hollywood. The biggest names in the business - George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise are all knocking on the door of middle age. But if they worked in middle management in an Australian company, at least two of them would now be unemployed.

56-year-old Malcolm Holt has stopped counting the number of jobs he's applied for. A former advertising executive, amongst other things he's discovered finding a job has virtually become a full time job itself.

"I start most days around 6 am, and at around about 4 o'clock I pull the pin. Otherwise you go completely crazy,” Holt said.

He is now hoping to retrain as a driver at a mine. Bickett has added a Master’s of Business Coaching to his portfolio, but unless companies change their tune, opportunities will not improve.

• Australia’s biggest online jobs noticeboard for mature workers - www.adage.com.au