Almost three in four executives with an average age of 50 are worried that they will be discriminated against on the basis of their age, according to a survey by ExecuNet, the executive job search and recruiting network.

It also found more than half (58%) believe their age has disqualified them as a candidate for opportunities in the past.

 “While age discrimination doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves, particularly during periods of economic growth, it’s a problem that nearly every professional will inevitably face in their career,” said Dave Opton, chief executive and founder of ExecuNet.

One in three executives surveyed believed age became a significant factor in a hiring decision at or below the age of 50, 34% said it started between the ages of 51 and 55, and another one-third (33%) reported that it became an issue after the age off 55.