Employment Guide: Seniors in the labor force enjoy more than the paycheck
-- Manufacturing Business Technology, 8/25/2008
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the share of the labor force aged 55 and older—currently at 17 percent—is rising rapidly and, by 2020, it is projected to be nearly 24 percent. The graying of the labor force can be attributed to many factors: longer life expectancy, significant increases in health-care costs, and, surprisingly, boredom.Chuck Byes spent his entire career as president and owner of Carriers Traffic Service, a consultant to the motor common carrier industry to assure strict adherence to government regulations for truck-line clients. As deregulation increased, Byes' client base dwindled, and he was forced to close the office and retire. Byes was just 59.
For several years Byes took on odd jobs in consulting, yet says he was unfulfilled and, at his age, thought he had few prospects for finding a rewarding job: "I was 72 years old, reasonably healthy, reasonably alert, but with nothing useful to do."
Enter AARP Foundation and The Employment Guide, which brings together older workers and meaningful jobs. The Employment Guide and AARP Foundation have partnered in the Employ the Older Workers Job Fair Series, a national effort reaching more than 55 cities. From late August through October, thousands of job seekers age 40 and older will have the opportunity to meet and interview with employers for a wide variety of positions in industries such as hospitality, retail, government, transportation, telecommunications, and customer service.
The job fair series is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor's National Employ Older Workers Week, Sept. 22-26, 2008.
To learn more about the graying of the American labor force and the Employ the Older Workers Job Fair Series, and for a complete listing of the job fairs, log on to http://wiserworker.com/job-fairs
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