Resources for Hiring Mature Workers

You’re a business owner and you need to hireexperience, strong work ethic, and loyalty offered by
hard-working, dependable people. You’ve heardmature workers.
that in your community there is a pool of talented· The State of New York has established the Mature
mature workers who have much to offer. How doWorker Task Force (MWTF), co-chaired by the New
you tap into this tremendous asset?York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the
You could run help wanted ads like everyone elseNew York State Department of Labor (DOL). The
does, but with an ad you never know who you’reMWTF will make recommendations and coordinate
going to get. Surely there must be a better way.New York State's efforts to assist older persons who
In many communities, there is! Here is just a sample ofchoose to work and remain self-sufficient. The agency
the hiring resources available to employers across theis dedicated to supporting business growth and
country. It’s likely that you’ll find something similardevelopment across the state in light of its aging work
in your area.force, and to combating ageism and stereotypes in the
· Seniors4Hire.org is a nationwide online career centerthe recruitment, retention, and training of mature
and a leading Internet resource for businesses thatworkers.
value a diverse workforce. Business owners and HR· Seniorsforhire.ca is a Canadian website that serves
executives can recruit workers fifty and older includingas a meeting place where employers can advertise
retirees and senior citizens who are looking for atheir needs and seniors can find places of employment.
career change.The goal of this family-run project is to bring value to
· The SeniorJobBank is a nationwide website usedthe workplace where the mature and the young work
by employers to advertise their jobs to thetogether to reach the high standards necessary in
website’s audience of talented, dedicated peopletoday's marketplace.
over the age of fifty. Employers posting with the· In Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee recently
SeniorJobBank are committed to hiring baby boomersannounced the Arkansas Mature Worker Initiative. A
and mature workers. For a modest fee to thenew workforce development program, the Arkansas
employer the site provides job postings, as well as jobMature Worker Initiative highlights featured employers
search, resume and job alert registration for jobwho have made a commitment to hire mature
seekers. Career and education information is providedworkers. "It's encouraging to see these companies
too.recognize the value of the countless mature workers
· In Washington State, the Mature Workers Alliancewe have in Arkansas," said Gov. Huckabee. "I hope
of Puget Sound is an all-volunteer group of private andmore employers see these workers are known to
public organizations dedicated to empoweringhave essential qualities needed for today's jobs,
over-fifty workers and promoting age and experienceincluding loyalty, dedication, and responsibility."
in the workforce. They sponsor workshops and jobThese are just a few examples of the efforts being
fairs for mature workers to help them conductmade by business, non-profit, and government groups
successful job searches and connect to hiringto connect employers with the talented pool of mature
employers. They also encourage businesses to recruitworkers in their community.
and retain mature workers and benefit from the