I think every profession's mythological landscape has "naive, inexperienced youngsters lacking a work ethic", and "aging careerists sledding toward retirement" (in my last profession they were known as "dead wood"). But I've never seen empirical evidence suggesting approximate percentages of either. Also in that landscape are "creative new bloods" and "wise elders", again, no empirical percentages. As a 52 year old retired from one profession and anxiously but excitedly preparing for a new one in IT, I can tell you, I don't feel comfortable when I hear either of the first two terms invoked. Yeah .... it's a subtle form of ageism no matter how you rationalize it.