The issues for workers over 40 started before the Greater Depression; they just became more visible after 2007/2008.
In my area rather than deal with paying better white workers higher wages than non-performing blacks (which would just get the company sued - successfully), many employers simply don’t hire them - it isn’t worth the hassles. They prevent lawsuits by hiring Hispanics instead, to the point where they even seem to avoid hiring white Americans if it can be avoided.
When you are a burb of Memphis, black is how you hire if you don’t want sued. They are still the majority-minority. They hire a few token whites that will work. Other big issue among this population is prison time, DUI DL losses and Drugs. Even fast food is drug testing now. I’m seeing many of these fast food places with for hire signs up, nearly the entire work force is black except in the more rural areas. Where there is a lack of manufacture jobs. You might see some Service jobs, like H/VAC, but beyond that it’s nail salons, and fast food.
Even the medical is limited. We have to travel into Memphis for that. Which is a 2 hr round trip plus wait time. I need to find a new PCP that does not want to send you to Pain Management. Been through that crap, they are worthless. Current one is not very bright. She replaced mine when he became to sick to work. She will write my Valium, but won’t increase it. Says 20 MG a day is to strong, yet she’d stick me on 375 mg of NASTY side effect Lyrica in a heart beat if I’d let her. So I put up with the Fibromyalgia and Peripheral Neuropathy pain that could be brought lower with just 5 mg more Valium, Pain Management Doc found it worked the best with least side effects. Not had a change in 10 yrs. Could stop if I wanted puke level pain 24/7. BP can’t stand the increase in pain stress. Heck getting near 70. Now she thinks there is a ‘sugar’ issue based on 3 month testing after taking a 1000 MG of C in the AM before she draws blood. DUMB writes a full blown diabetes script with out the proper testing, or a meter, make her give me a meter but then she only gives 1 test strip per day. See the ENDO in Aug. NO sugar issue just a Vit C one. Non professionals are not the only ones not competent to work.