You're 100% correct about the bean counter financial motivation.

The author was not correct to say "IT" and "Youth". IT is a huge huge huge field. It also comes down to company size (small, medium, large, mega), and in what sector (govt, medical, finance, start-up, etc). I only really know mega corps, so I think age discrimination is less of a factor there, but the bean counting factor is huge (see offshore model for proof).

I wonder what the IT team age statistics were for Facebook or FourSquare or Twitter in the early start-up phases? I ask because the only age discrimination comments I got in the past were when dealing with smaller type companies - "they like young sharp guys like you".

And this is about pure developer, code jockey type positions. Management roles have some junior positions and that makes sense, but the track record and experience is mandatory for IT Tech PM or Tech BA roles.

I was a twenty something PC/Microsoft "developer" whiz kid with no mainframe skills at all beyond making jokes about them. Bottom line - I ran rings around the older employees that were having a really hard time making, or even wanting to make, the shift from mainframe to PC. I loved technology and did it at work and at home for fun. The question is, was that age related or just the result obtained when you marry talent and passion? Just take one look at the short list of Technology heavy hitters and innovators and it's certainly filled with many > 35 persons.

I'm glad the author put Youth on the list, because there are more than a few hiring managers that think this way about IT and by stating it publicly, it provides the opportunity to highlight what a moronic view it is.