Claer BarrettJul 21, 2026 – 9.00amThis week, I’ve been following an unsettling series of social media posts from Stacey Duguid, a former fashion editor who went viral after speaking about the “silent shame” of being “unemployable” in mid-life.Over the past 16 months, the 52-year-old has submitted hundreds of job applications, most unanswered. “The money’s running out, and I’m frightened,” she posted. “And if I’m in this position, maybe you are too?”Financial TimesSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles