how difficult it is to find a job

Why is it so difficult to find a job I have over 44 years experience in an office, yet cannot find a decent well paid job. I was made redundant before christmas after 11 years in same firm and replaced with someone who had never worked in an office and who after 5 days left also, I have joined numerous agencies, applied for numerous jobs but to no avail, I just cannot understand why employers do not take on more mature people, after all I am honest, reliable, never late, dependalble, will do most jobs, there is not much I don't no about running an office, I willnot leave to have children, been there done that, have gone past periods, etc, have no man in my life so am fairly happy as have control of my own remote control (hurray don't have to watch football), own my own house and car, can find my way around Manchester and south of england, but still not chance of a job, oh dear what shall I do.