Employment Services that Focus on Older Workers Emerge

Responding to demand, employment services especially geared to older workers are springing up around the U.S. The number of workers 55 and over in 2005 came to 40 million or 16.5% of the total workforce, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who predicts this share will grow to 20% by 2015. In tandem with AARP, employment agencies are developing specialized work-search strategies for older workers. Manpower Inc. has created a Reinvent Retirement program while Kelly Services finds jobs for roughly 67,000 older workers annually. Agencies like Senior Employment Services find that three-fourths of clients are seeking full-time work; others, like Over 60 Counseling and Employment Services, place many more into part-time jobs. (New York Times [Olson], April 11, 2006)