Tory Johnson: How to Find a Job Later in Life
Find out how people in the second stage of life jump back into the work force.
March 7, 2007 — -- Supply and demand dictates that retirees are hot. By 2010 -- just three years from now -- almost one in three workers will be at least 50, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Savvy employers should hustle to tap into the 50+ crowd, which would be welcome news for the 80 percent of workers ages 50 to 70 who, according to a recent AARP survey, say they plan to work in some capacity during retirement years or never retire at all.
Reasons for longevity in the workplace range from a desire to stay active and productive while combating boredom to the need to supplement retirement funds or receive health-care benefits.
Among the top fields tapping these mature workers: health care, education, retail, financial services, temporary services and even engineering and sciences. Even the trucking industry is trying to lure such workers based on the theory that if they can drive a Winnebago into the sunset, they can handle an 18-wheeler, too.
Some retailers, including CVS/Pharmacy, Borders and Home Depot, have "snowbird programs" allowing workers to transfer their employment to Florida during the winter months.
And I'm seeing a growing trend with new online job boards that feature opportunities from thousands of employers that are actively reaching out to retirees.
Such sites include SeniorJobBank.org and Seniors4Hire.org. YourEncore.com specializes in placing retired engineers and scientists in contract assignments with leading employers. In addition, AARP's National Employment Team features profiles of 30 national employers that say they're eager to tap into the 50+ work force.
Entrepreneurship is also an appealing route. About half of all self-employed people in this country are older than 50. Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along, this is the path to creating the dream job without working on someone else's terms.
Many employers I've talked to cite loyalty and dedication among the top reasons for hiring mature workers. They're less likely to jump from job to job than their younger counterparts, which means employers save big bucks from high-turnover costs. Retirees put a premium on providing exceptional customer service, which is unfortunately in short supply these days in this country. And of course, they can often serve as mentors for younger co-workers.
