Tweet

Benefits of Hiring Older Workers

Guest post by: Allison Grace

Article Overview: By 2016, it is expected that 1 out of 3 workers will be 50 years of age or older. A labor shortage, as much as 30% by 2030, is expected as boomers continue to mature. Employers who learn how to attract and keep older workers will be able to fill the expected shortfall.

Benefits of Hiring Older Workers

By 2016, it is expected that 1 out of 3 workers will be 50 years of age or older. A labor shortage, as much as 30% by 2030, is expected as boomers continue to mature. Employers who learn how to attract and keep older workers will be able to fill the expected shortfall. Most older workers are planning to work during their retirement years, in part-time positions or with a reduced commitment to work. Many of these workers are interested in doing something different than what they spent doing in the years leading up to retirement. Jobs working for non-profits or less competitive workplace environments hold greater appeal, and boomers are interested in a challenge while also having an opportunity for work/life balance. They don't want a boring or unchallenging job, but they do not want a high stress, demanding job either.

Mature workers have a lot to offer employers. They have a clear understanding of their value to an employer and are interested in mentoring and contributing. Benefits of hiring older workers include:

• More reliability than younger workers
• Eagerness to learn new skills
• Well developed core skills
• Well developed speaking and writing skills
• Lower turnover
• Ability to work with minimal supervision

Employers who are interested in recruiting older workers recognize:

• Money is less important to these workers than life balance and flexibility
• Mature workers often are quick to take job sharing opportunities
• Flexible work schedules and greater independence appeal to mature workers
• Mature workers can be attracted by offering free training to upgrade computer skills
• Perks like free use of a facility, company services, free use of computers or similar perks are often attractive.

Employers may make the following mistakes in hiring older workers:

• Offering over qualified mature employees entry level jobs, just because they want part-time work.
• Failing to recognize the attractiveness of benefits and perks.
• Treating mature workers like entry level employees by failing to recognize their skills and abilities and requiring them to complete basic customer service training or other training in an environment where the mature worker is talked down to.

So how do you recruit older workers? Some employers recruit older workers by using employment services targeted at this group. Employers can retain current employees to work beyond retirement by offering reduced hours, flex-time or job sharing.

Employers can recruit older workers by reconnecting with already retired workers. Some job fairs are focused on mature workers and certain government funded programs designed to help mature workers who are seeking work, are an effective resource.

Employers can increase their ability to draw mature workers by ensuring their ads and career materials show a diverse workforce including older people as staff, and volunteers. Collaborate with local organizations providing services to older people to create customized job fairs. Mature workers often like to work in environments where they are offering services to their peer group. If mature consumers are recipients of your services, showing that in your marketing materials invites more mature workers to be attracted to your company.

Let both your employees and your clients know that you are interested in hiring workers. Word-of-mouth works.

If you are an employer, paying attention to the benefits and perspectives of mature workers can be helpful. If you are a mature employee seeking a new opportunity understanding how employers view mature workers and doing your research to seek out employers who recognize the benefit of mature workers is time well-spent.

The trend is clear. Americans are aging. Older employees are available and more are coming. Employers who can provide an ideal environment for these valuable and skilled individuals can prepare for projectedlabor shortages down the road.

Related Articles
  Young Boss, Older Worker
  Older Employees in Big Demand!!
  MYTHS ABOUT MARKETING TO OLDER PEOPLE
  The Advantages of Hiring Older Employees
  Report: 40% of companies to hire contract or temp employees

Article Tags: boomers, computer skills, core skills, eagerness, flexible work schedules, job sharing, labor shortage, li li, mature workers, minimal supervision, older workers, part time, retirement, shortfall, time positions, turnover, ul, work life balance, workplace environments, writing skills



Related Forum Posts
Re: looking for experienced affiliate feedback - Hi Nancy, Hiring an experienced firm to market and sell your products is certainly a viable option. It all depends on whether you want to spend more of your time or money. Hiring a firm is going to cost a good bit I imagine. On the flip side, to do most of the work yourself and attract affiliates to sell your products for you will require much less money but a lot more time and effort. Do you have a budget to work within? Or perhaps maybe you have a loan to get things moving?
Re: Search Engine Optimization - Hi Thomas, So what would you recommend? Hiring an SEO expert or simply trying your hand at doing it yourself?
Respect?!? - Hi there, A successful business depends on ongoing series of transactions. This inlvolves people. To what extend is respect important? When one thinks of himself alone, like me, me and me, how can respect become real? How many types of respect can we come up with? I think of a few: Respect of disagreement can be one. Then there is Respect of the Customer. Respect of position. Respect of 'Older Person'. By the same token, Respect of the 'Younger ones'. etc..... Has anybody got any other ideas on this subject. Kindest Regards Beat "Unlock People's Potentials!"
Re: Search Engine Optimization - [quote="Kevin":18cbigeg]Hi Thomas, So what would you recommend? Hiring an SEO expert or simply trying your hand at doing it yourself?[/quote:18cbigeg] I would suggest learning it on your own. The internet is evolving daily but can you guarantee a hired SEO expert is. The more you learn, the more creative ideas you have when optimizing your sites. An SEO expert might specialize in one aspect, where you have a chance to take SEO to the next level when you dig deep within yourself and branch out to all aspects. But if you do hire someone make sure you get a credible resource on your side.
Dropping out of school - I remember Dave Thomas, a man who dropped out of high school to found Wendys and turned into a millionaire, saying to people who pointed to this fact.... "Just think what I'd've been able to do if I HAD gone to college." In other words he was thinking he could've been even better if he'd gotten that extra education. Although in this day and age where young guys - and gals - with computer smarts can provide an invaluable service at a young age... they might not need to go to college to learn how to do what they already [i:ckavbg5w]know [/i:ckavbg5w]how to do... but do they have the business knowledge to run the [i:ckavbg5w]business [/i:ckavbg5w]end of their business? Hiring people, doing accounting, making sure your accountant isn't diddling you, etc. etc. Although it's not necessary to go to college to get those skills - a votech will do.... some education in those areas is necessary, I would think.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

20 MORE Must-Have Search Engine Marketing Tools

Download a template or see a lawyer?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.