Baby Boomers Benefit From Growing Workforce Needs

Source: AARP.org | March 20, 2007

Employment among older workers is booming. The number of workers 55 and older nationwide hit a record 24.6 million recently, with workers 65 and older jumping 44 percent over the last decade to 5.2 million.

Aging baby boomers only explain part of the older-worker growth phenomena.

"A lot of people haven't saved properly for retirement and are going back to work for financial reasons," noted Ed Redfern Jr., AARP New York associate state director. "But people also are living longer, are healthier longer, want to stay engaged, want to be useful and involved in their community."

Whatever the reason for job hunting, trends appear bright for older workers.

First, there just aren't enough younger workers to fill the ever-growing job market. Research shows older workers are an asset to employers. They have productivity advantages making them far more cost-effective than traditionally believed.

And often they are more motivated than younger co-workers to exceed job expectations. Still, older workers face barriers, including age discrimination and lengthy unemployment. "There are a lot of myths about the older worker, and we have to dispel the myths," said Redfern, a former career counselor helping AARP New York lead an older worker initiative.

It's up to older job seekers to highlight their skills to prospective employers.

That's exactly what Cheryl Fleisher of Brooklyn is doing. A former marketing professional and adjunct professor at New York University, Fleisher, 60, is looking for an assistant position in corporate marketing, both for the benefits and a way to engage with others.

Fleisher has taken action to highlight her skills and desire to prospective employers. She's learned about podcasting, upgraded her technology skills, actively networks and has reinvented herself on paper - compiling five different résumés, each showcasing different skills. Her search is taking longer than she expected, but she said, "I'm still extremely optimistic."

Call AARP New York at 1-866-227-7442 to get publications on job hunting success, job interviewing, compiling a résumé, updating technology skills and other resources.

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