Resources for Hiring Mature Workers

You’re a business owner and you need to hire hard-working, dependable people. You’ve heard that in your community there is a pool of talented mature workers who have much to offer. How do you tap into this tremendous asset?

You could run help wanted ads like everyone else does, but with an ad you never know who you’re going to get. Surely there must be a better way.

In many communities, there is! Here is just a sample of the hiring resources available to employers across the country. It’s likely that you’ll find something similar in your area.

· Seniors4Hire.org is a nationwide online career center and a leading Internet resource for businesses that value a diverse workforce. Business owners and HR executives can recruit workers fifty and older including retirees and senior citizens who are looking for a career change.

· The SeniorJobBank is a nationwide website used by employers to advertise their jobs to the website’s audience of talented, dedicated people over the age of fifty. Employers posting with the SeniorJobBank are committed to hiring baby boomers and mature workers. For a modest fee to the employer the site provides job postings, as well as job search, resume and job alert registration for job seekers. Career and education information is provided too.

· In Washington State, the Mature Workers Alliance of Puget Sound is an all-volunteer group of private and public organizations dedicated to empowering over-fifty workers and promoting age and experience in the workforce. They sponsor workshops and job fairs for mature workers to help them conduct successful job searches and connect to hiring employers. They also encourage businesses to recruit and retain mature workers and benefit from the experience, strong work ethic, and loyalty offered by mature workers.

· The State of New York has established the Mature Worker Task Force (MWTF), co-chaired by the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the New York State Department of Labor (DOL). The MWTF will make recommendations and coordinate New York State's efforts to assist older persons who choose to work and remain self-sufficient. The agency is dedicated to supporting business growth and development across the state in light of its aging work force, and to combating ageism and stereotypes in the the recruitment, retention, and training of mature workers.

· Seniorsforhire.ca is a Canadian website that serves as a meeting place where employers can advertise their needs and seniors can find places of employment. The goal of this family-run project is to bring value to the workplace where the mature and the young work together to reach the high standards necessary in today's marketplace.

· In Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee recently announced the Arkansas Mature Worker Initiative. A new workforce development program, the Arkansas Mature Worker Initiative highlights featured employers who have made a commitment to hire mature workers. "It's encouraging to see these companies recognize the value of the countless mature workers we have in Arkansas," said Gov. Huckabee. "I hope more employers see these workers are known to have essential qualities needed for today's jobs, including loyalty, dedication, and responsibility."

These are just a few examples of the efforts being made by business, non-profit, and government groups to connect employers with the talented pool of mature workers in their community.

If you are an employer, to access a pool of motivated mature workers, contact your local WorkSource Center. Visit http://www.worksourcecalifornia.com/ and click the Business Resources link on the left. Mature workers seeking employment may also visit the same site and click on Services for Job Seekers.