Despite decades of experience in the banking and insurance industries, Mr Davies, 56, has been unable to find a job for more than a decade.

He is part of a growing band of older job seekers in Griffith increasingly frustrated at being overlooked by employers.

“I really believe there are two baskets for job applications here – one for over 50s and one for under 50s,” Mr Davies said.

“You do get a bit cynical, especially when you see the people who ended getting the job. You just think, how can they get a job but I can’t?”

Mr Davies has joined recruitment agencies and sent out a barrage of CVs, even applying for labouring positions during vintage just to get back in the workforce.

“The knockbacks are tough and even worse when they don’t bother getting back to you,” he said.

“You end up missing the routine most, getting up every morning and shaving and that sort of thing.

“And it affects your confidence ... it affects you in stupid ways.”

The Yenda father of two is forced to live on a Newstart allowance of about $200 a week.

“It’s not easy but thankfully we own our own house and the kids are grown up,” he said.

“If I was in this situation when I was younger, with kids and school and everything else, I don’t think we could cope.”

A recent study commissioned by National Seniors Australia found Australia was lagging behind most developed nations when it came to employing older people.

Summit Employment and Training consultant Christine Stead said there was an employer bias towards younger applicants, especially in the unskilled labour market.

“A lot of younger people are able to be employed as juniors so the company pays them a lower rate,” Ms Stead said.

“There are also more wage subsidies and traineeships for younger ones.

“It seems to get harder for job seekers when they hit about 45.”