It seems like the newspapers both in Colorado and across the country are filled with headlines about talent shortages and employers not being able to fill jobs, despite still high unemployment rates. We think that there is a practical, smart, and often overlooked solution: Let people in your community know that you value the experience and strengths that older workers bring. Deliberate recruit older workers and you can leverage the benefits of older workers and intergenerational workplaces.
Janine Vanderburg
What are some of those benefits? Research tells us that:
1. Older workers tend to be more loyal, engaged, and motivated to exceed expectations.
2. Despite common fears that older workers won’t stay around, older workers have on average four times the tenure of younger workers.
3. Older workers have stronger networks of professional connections than their younger counterparts, which can benefit your business.
4. Older workers have better communications and soft skills, essential in a time where we are constantly pivoting.
5. Older workers are very motivated to learn new things, which can help your organization. In fact, in a survey that Changing the Narrative conducted this summer and fall of Coloradans age 50 and over, over half of respondents were interested in gaining new certifications, 44% were interested in technology training, and 37% were interested in internships or apprenticeships to learn new skills.
The world is changing, and aging. Smart employers will seek to fill their pipelines with talent from all generations, and not allow outdated myths and stereotypes about older workers get in the way. You can learn more about this at: https://changingthenarrativeco.org/age-friendly-intergenerational-workplaces-2/
Janine Vanderburg leads Changing the Narrative, a campaign to change the way that people think, talk and act about aging and ageism.