More than one-quarter of older Massachusetts residents said they or someone they know has experienced age discrimination in the workplace, according to survey released Thursday by AARP.

The survey, which reflects results of conversations with 400 people, is evidence of the need to strengthen laws protecting older workers, AARP said. In particular, older workers who lose their jobs are finding it difficult to land new employment, according to Debbie Chalfie, AARP’s senior legislative representative. A Government Accountability Office report in May showed that of 1.1 million people over age 55 who are out of work, more than half have been unable to find a job for six months. Another 42 percent have been out of work for more than a year.