Abstract
This study attempted to determine if age was perceived as a barrier to employment for unemployed individuals above 40 years of age. The social cognitive career theory formed the foundation of this study. Job search self-efficacy was measured in 116 unemployed individuals in three states. An independent samples t test was calculated to compare the mean job search self-efficacy scores of the participants above the age of 40 to the scores of the younger participants. No significant difference was found (t(114) = 1.05, p > .05). Linear regression analysis computed a regression equation that was not significant (F(1,114) = 1.47. p > .05) with a R2 of .012. For the participants of this study, age and job search self-efficacy were not correlated.