Employees in 40s are now No 1 layoff targets, CEO warns. He suggests 3 survival tips

The 40s are often considered the prime of a professional’s career — the decade where experience meets peak productivity, and financial responsibilities soar. It’s the phase when salaries are high, leadership roles become accessible, and professionals are expected to be at the top of their game. But in today’s ruthless hiring-and-firing cycle, this age group is finding itself the most vulnerable — blindsided by layoffs, and increasingly, left in the cold.

Shantanu Deshpande, founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, raised a critical concern: professionals in their 40s often carry the heaviest burdens — finances of children, dependent parents, EMIs on dream homes. Yet, they’re now among the first to be let go when companies restructure or scale down. Deshpande pointed out that many professionals in their 40s are juggling college expenses for their children, financial support for aging parents, EMIs, and often with limited savings. The situation, he emphasized, is deeply concerning.

He also pointed out that for many professionals in their 40s, the golden salary phase — typically expected in senior management roles during their late 40s and 50s — might still be ahead of them, making layoffs at this stage even more disruptive and untimely.

What are his survival tips?

He calls losing a job in the 40s a “massive destabiliser” financially and emotionally. His three survival tips are, “Upskilling on AI, saving more, building an entrepreneurial mindset”.

Internet reacts

One user suggested a potential solution: building a value-driven product, service, or offering that could attract one lakh customers at a price point of Rs 2,000 each, resulting in Rs 20 crore in revenue. While broad in concept, they emphasized the importance of a detailed roadmap to make such a vision a reality.

Some believe that with early planning and disciplined financial investments, a secondary income—up to 50% of one’s primary income—can be achieved. Others point out that in their 40s, many professionals enter a comfort zone, with focus shifting to family, children’s education, and aging parents. This often delays upskilling, despite rapid changes driven by AI and automation. Companies may prefer hiring newer, cost-effective talent over investing in existing high-cost employees. For those in their 40s, the typical response is denial, followed by procrastination, and finally reluctant upskilling. Fast, self-driven learning is now essential to remain relevant.