I'm 36. If I get a degree in a new field and work 15 years, I'll be 55, but my resume will say I have a Bachelor's degree with 15 years of experience.

I picked up my BCE at 36. Of course now that I am 58, even 44 is getting to the outer edge for those who would discriminate.

Or just don’t include more than a year or two of job history prior to the degree.

Imagine his career lasts just as long, he just starts at his 40s

Requesting Years of experience can also be considered discrimination

FFS, It's not illegal discrimination.

In the USA discrimination is 100% legal if 1) the group being discriminated against is not specifically defined as a protected group under law OR 2) it's a legitimate job requirement.

Requiring programmers to know how to program also discriminates against non-programmers but non-programmers aren't a protected group.

Requiring a stocker to be able to lift 30 pounds discriminates against the disabled. The disabled are a protected group, but it's a legitimate job requirement for a stocker to be able to move the stock around.

If you're hiring for a senior engineer it's not illegal discrimination because 1) it's a legitimate job requirement and 2) young people are not a protected group under law (only people over 40 are)

Out of my own personal curiosity. How does the protection for people over 40 work?

in which world? because every job posting I have ever seen requires years of doing x or y.