AARP Hearing Center
Key takeaways
- Boost team performance by hiring experienced workers, as highlighted by Carly Roszkowski of AARP.
- Enhance creativity and decision-making through age-diverse teams that drive stronger business outcomes.
- Reduce turnover and training costs with older employees’ commitment and proven retention rates.
Summary
Hiring experienced workers over 50 is a proven strategy for building a stronger, more productive team. Carly Roszkowski of AARP highlights that age diversity in the workplace leads to better decision-making, increased creativity, and greater stability — directly improving business outcomes. When hiring managers tap into the expertise of older workers, they’re accessing leadership, collaboration skills, and insights gained over decades, which not only drive results but also foster a thriving, innovative company culture.
Beyond their valuable skills, older employees have higher retention rates, meaning businesses spend less on costly turnover and training. Embracing experienced workers not only strengthens team performance but also helps organizations create an age-friendly workplace, setting the stage for long-term growth and success.
The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
Full Transcript:
[00:00:00] Experience, knowledge and skills drive success in the workplace. So if you’re a hiring manager looking for a strong candidate, here are
[00:00:07] 3 reasons to hire an older worker. Number 1: Age-friendly businesses are more productive. Including a mix of
[00:00:15] generations in the workplace can make a big difference in business outcomes. Nearly 4 out of 5 workers over 18
[00:00:22] say that working with colleagues older than them makes the workplace more productive. That’s because multigenerational teams tend to make better decisions,
[00:00:30] solve tougher problems, and bring more stability to the workplace, which are all essential for high-performing companies.
[00:00:37] Number 2: Older workers bring collaboration and leadership. 77% of all workers say they value older colleagues for the skills and
[00:00:46] experience they bring to the table. That’s because experienced workers make great leaders and teammates, offering
[00:00:52] unique viewpoints and strong decision-making skills that benefit everyone. Mixed-age teams are often more creative too,
[00:01:00] since everyone can bring something different to the table. When experienced workers combine their soft skills, new perspectives, and years of experience with
[00:01:07] a multigenerational team, it can create a workforce that’s truly unstoppable. Number 3: Older workers have low turnover.
[00:01:15] Employees over 55 tend to stay in their roles 3 times longer compared to those under 35.
[00:01:22] Research suggests that when employees stay with a company longer, the company tends to do better overall. And no business wants to waste money.
[00:01:30] Replacing an employee is expensive. It can cost up to twice an employee’s annual salary to
[00:01:37] replace and train a new hire. Now that you know the positive impact of hiring experienced workers, you
[00:01:43] can build a workplace that supports collaboration across generations, and create a stronger, more productive team.
[00:01:50] To learn more about the benefits of hiring older workers and how to combat workplace ageism, visit aarp.org/employers.
