Arkansas Mature Workforce Reaches Out to 4000 Attendees at Job Fair
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-29 14:48:18.322628-04:00
Staff from the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board and Department of Workforce Services provided information about the Arkansas Mature Worker Initiative to job seekers at the Central Arkansas Human Resources Association and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Job Fair May 15 at the Statehouse Convention Center. Sixty-three vendors participated in the job fair, which is held twice a year. It is estimated that 4,000 job seekers attended the event.
Many mature workers stopped by the booth to inquire about the initiative and took information about the initiative, featured employers, Arkansas Workforce Centers, and tips for job hunting and interviewing was provided. The AARP booklets on the Mature Workforce have been a tremendous resource, not only to employers, but also to those seeking jobs.
Following the retirement of the Baby Boomer population, the labor force in Arkansas and across the country will experience a shortage in their workforce. Experienced mature workers will be in great demand to fill in the gap left behind by the retired Baby Boomers.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 43 percent of the workforce operating between the years 2004 and 2012 will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years. The workforce is predicted to decrease in size by 15 percent in each of the two generations following this time span. Additionally, 61 percent of entrants (ages 16-25) to the workforce are not fully qualified.
In the past, AARP has taken steps to increase the awareness and appreciation of mature workers by developing relationships with the public workforce system, states, chambers of commerce, national and local training providers, trade associations, labor unions, community organizations, policy makers, and business leaders. Through collaboration with these groups and individuals, a series of regional workforce meetings for employers interested in hiring mature workers were held from April - October 2006.
In Arkansas, we are proud to have 15 AARP Featured Employers that are actively recruiting and retaining workers ages 50 and older.
They include: The Home Depot, Adecco, Allied Barton, Borders Group, Cendant Car Rental Group - Avis/Budget, Cingular Wireless, Comcast Cable, CVS/pharmacy, Express Personnel Services, John Hopkins Medicine, Kelly Services Inc., Manpower Inc., MetLife Inc., New York Life Insurance Co., News America Marketing, Quest Diagnostics, Pitney Bowes Inc., Principal Financial Group, Right at Home, Schneider National Inc., SunTrust Banks Inc., Universal Health Services, Verizon, and Walgreens.
Related Articles
- Flexible Work Options Appeal to Older Workers
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Other Resources
- Careers After 50: AARP
- Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
- Central Arkansas Human Resources Association
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