The number of mature workers over age 50 who are still working full or part-time jobs is growing, a trend fueled in part by the Baby Boom generation and the overall greater health conditions of our country’s aging population.
According to the Pew Research Center, about one-fifth of people age 65 and older were employed in 2023 – nearly double the number of people in that age group who were working 35 years ago.
Not only are older workers increasing in number, their earning power has grown as well. In 2022, the typical older worker - age 65 and up - earned $22 per hour, up from $13 in 1987, Pew reports.
The Seniors Job Bank (SJB), a Hartford-region nonprofit organization, is seeking to tap into that broad workforce to help power the labor connection between older workers and employers who need to fill jobs.
“We help businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, homeowners, and individuals by connecting them with an incredible and diverse workforce in our region,” says Robin Clare, Executive Director of the Seniors Job Bank.
Created in 1974 to address job losses resulting from a recession, the organization is seeing an uptick in the number of mature jobseekers, many of them workplace professionals who have retired from career jobs but who want to remain active, both mentally and physically.
“I’m continually amazed by the talents of the people who are coming to us,” Robin says. “They have extensive, incredible, robust and diverse skill sets.”
While the Job Bank traditionally has connected workers with skills in the trades for jobs sought by homeowners - gardening, maintenance, home health aides, and general handyman work - the nonprofit is broadening that client-base to include more businesses, nonprofit agencies, and municipalities which seek white-collar candidates.
“We call them mature workers because to qualify as a jobseeker you must be 50 years old. These are people who worked for years and who know the importance of showing up on time, have a great deal of knowledge and a solid work ethic,” says Lester Primus, President of the Seniors Job Bank.
Currently, the Seniors Job Bank has 810 job applicants and is on target to have 600 job requests from employers seeking help. The SJB is seeking more jobs in its database to accommodate the ever-increasing number of jobseekers.
“We are excited to work with the Seniors Job Bank. This partnership allows us to create a future where every individual, regardless of age, is valued for their skills and expertise,” says Larry Santilli, President & C.E.O. of Athena Health Care Systems.
The Seniors Job Bank connects applicants with employers, it does not manage the relationship between them or negotiate pay. It is not an employment agency. The service is free for both workers and employers and the SJB relies solely on donations and grants for operational expenses.
According to AARP, by 2030, the number of seniors over 65 will reach 73 million Americans. By 2034, the United States will – for the first time ever – be a country comprised of more older adults than of children.
A new initiative in 2024 will be for the organization to help older people find volunteer jobs, an important outlet for many people seeking to keep busy in their retirement years. “Many mature workers are looking for both paid and unpaid opportunities,” Robin Clare adds.
The Seniors Job Bank alleviates concerns among mature workers who fear age-based discrimination in job searches. By intentionally posting job opportunities with SJB, employers signal their commitment to welcoming mature workers, effectively eliminating ageism from the equation.
Online: seniorsjobbankct.org
Phone: 860-521-3210
Email: Info@seniorsjobbankct.org
Older workers today are attractive to employers, the Pew report says, because in general they tend to have at least a four-year college degree and often already have health insurance and/or pensions, either from the government or their previous employer.