America is witnessing a dramatic growth in the number of citizens who
are 55 or older, a trend that will continue well into the 21st
century. As our population continues to age, older Americans will
play an increasingly important role in maintaining our economy and
America’s leadership in the world marketplace.
First celebrated in the Eisenhower Administration,
and celebrated nearly every year since that time,
National Employ Older Workers Week activities focus on
recognizing the importance of the participation of older workers
in the labor force. This is an important opportunity for elected
officials, employers, and the general public to highlight the vital
role of older workers in the current labor force and the continuing
importance of the participation of older workers in meeting the
employment needs of our 21st century economy.
By 2008, 40 percent of the labor force will be age 45 or older, and 8 million more Americans age 55 or older will be in the labor force than there were in 1998. This population of mature workers includes individuals who are retiring at young ages and want second careers, individuals who want to work beyond age 65, and those individuals that want some source of income, but not necessarily a full time job.
National Employ Older Workers Week provides an
opportunity to increase awareness and focus on development of
innovative strategies for tapping into this underutilized labor
pool that can help address the challenge posed by potential worker
shortages.
National Employ Older Workers Week showcases
the efforts of the Department of Labor’s Senior Community
Service Employment Program (SCSEP) of 40 years in serving the
job training and placement needs of people with limited financial
resources who are age 55 or older. Since its inception under the
Economic Opportunity Act, this program has helped over one million
people enter the job market each year by providing workforce services
to older Americans and exploring ways for older workers to respond to
the rapidly changing skills demands of business.
The Committee on Economic Development cites surveys indicating that employers rate older workers high on factors such as judgment, commitment to quality, attendance and punctuality. These qualities, coupled with their “old fashioned employer loyalty,” make older workers an attractive resource for employers seeking workers and possibly mentors for younger workers.
Americans aged 55 or older are a dedicated and experienced core of our workforce. Their contributions to the nation as paid workers and volunteers in both the private and public sectors are immeasurable.
Join SCSEP in the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Older
American’s Act. Following is a sample listing of SCSEP
National Employ Older Workers Week events.
Please contact your local service provider for information regarding
other events and activities.
|
DATE |
SPONSORS |
EVENT |
CONTACT |
8/23/05 |
Experience Works
Lucas County, OH
|
County Commissioners Proclamation for NEOWW Outstanding Older Workers Award |
Doris Beach (419) 255-7102
doris_beach
@experienceworks.org or db@bright.net
|
9/08/05 |
Indiana Division of Aging
SCSEP
Indianapolis, IN
|
Governor’s Older Worker
Proclamation
|
Virginia Morris
Ginny.morris@fssa.in.gov
|
9/12-16/05
|
Experience Works
MO One-Stop Career Centers in Nevada, Clinton, Lexington, Marshall,
Sedalia and Warsaw, MO
|
NEOWW Proclamation signed by mayor of each town
|
Denelle Spear
Experience Works
(417) 345-2797
Bill Thole
(660) 885-5678
|
9/14/05 |
Mature Workers Alliance of Puget Sound: AARP National Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
Aging & Disability Services of Seattle-King County
|
Mature Workers Alliance Age 50+ Job Fair |
Lori Mina (206) 615-1753
lori.mina@ci.seattle.wa.us
|
9/19/05 |
Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Work Experience
National Able Network
Easter Seals
One-Stop Career Center
Quincy, IL
|
Older Workers Conference
|
Lana Clark
(217) 223-7904
|
9/19/05 |
Olympic Area Agency on Aging
Tri-Area Community Center
Jefferson County, WA
|
Hire An Older Worker
SCSEP 40th Anniversary
Celebration
|
Belinda Price
Title V Program Manager
(800) 801-0050
|
9/19/05 |
Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Division of Employment and Workforce Development |
Boomer Career
Website launch
http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/boomer/
|
Paulette Osborne (615) 741-8777
paulette.osborne
@state.tn.us
|
9/19/05 |
Puerto Rican Unity for Progress, Inc.
(PRUP, Inc.)
SCSEP
One-Stop Career Center Auditorium
Camden County, NJ
|
Celebration: National Older Workers Week Expo
(Employers and Social Organizations) |
Maria Desher Ana Velez SCSEP Case Managers (856) 541-1418
|
9/19/05 |
Easter Seals Central Alabama
SCSEP
Montgomery, AL
|
City of Montgomery honoring older
workers proclamation signing: Mayor Bobby Bright |
Frankie Thomas
SCSEP Program Manager
(334) 288-0240
|
9/19/05 |
Olympic Area Agency on Aging
Coastal Community Action
Council
Grays Harbor County, WA
|
Older Worker
SCSEP 40th Anniversary
Celebration
|
Belinda Price
Title V Program Manager
(800) 801-0050
|
9/19-23/05 |
MO One-Stop Career Center
Experience Works
West Plains, MO
|
NEOWW Proclamation
signed by West Plains
Mayor
|
Denelle Spear
(417) 345-2797
Anne Hutchison
(417) 926-4551
|
9/19-23/05 |
Area Agency on Aging
Department of Employment Security
One-Stop Career Center
Experience Works
Quincy, IL
|
One-Stop Career Center
Reception featuring
speaker, training session
on a successful job search
and tour of One-Stop
|
Denelle Spear
Experience Works
(417) 345-2797
Kip Colgrove
(217) 885-3438
|
9/19-23/05 |
Easter Seals New Jersey SCSEP
Hudson County, NJ
|
National Employ Older Workers Week - OJE Workshops for area employers |
Barbara Armstrong SCSEP Resource Specialist (201) 200-1340
|
9/19-23/05 |
Easter Seals New Jersey SCSEP
Monmouth County, NJ
|
National Employ Older Workers Week - OJE Workshops for area Employers |
Lauren Jones SCSEP Resource Specialist (732) 869-2201
|
9/20/05 |
Olympic Area Agency on Aging
Port Angeles Senior Center
Clallam County, WA
|
Hire An Older Worker
SCSEP 40th Anniversary
Celebration
|
Belinda Price
Title V Program Manager
(800) 801-0050
|
9/20-23/05 |
Easter Seals Inc. National Headquarters Chicago, Washington D.C.
|
Older Worker's Carnival - In recognition of Easter Seals older workers
|
Carol Salter
SCSEP National Director (800) 221-6827
|
9/21/05 |
Easter Seals New Jersey SCSEP
Bergen County, NJ
|
SCSEP Mini Job Fair |
Aneta Tarver SCSEP Resource Specialist (201) 329-9600
|
9/21/05 |
SER de New Mexico-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
Catron County Citizens Group
Silver City, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Tina Sanchez
(505) 268-4500
|
9/21/05 |
New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Service Dept.
New Mexico Dept. of Labor
New Mexico Workforce Connection
SER
AARP
New Mexico Dept. of
Vocational Rehabilitation
Albuquerque, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Marvin Hopkins
(505) 222- 4605
|
9/21/05 |
Hobbs Dept. of Labor
Hobbs, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Dick Frank
(505) 393-5188
|
9/21/05 |
Las Cruces Dept. of Labor
Dona Ana County JSEC
Las Cruces, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Richard Wagner
(505) 524-6250
|
9/21/05
|
Easter Seals Middle Georgia
SCSEP
Eastman, GA
|
City of Eastman Quarterly Meeting
Topic: “Employ the Older Worker”
Guest Speaker: Mayor Donald Walker, City of Warner Robins, GA
|
Pauline White SCSEP Program Manager (478) 934-2787
|
9/21/05
|
Office of Aging
Lancaster County, NJ
|
Champions of Older Workers Breakfast
|
Tom Martin (717) 299-7979
|
9/21/05 |
Experience Works
The Source
Lucas County, OH
|
Older Worker Job Fair |
Doris Beach (419) 255-7102
doris_beach
@experienceworks.org or
db@bright.net
|
9/21/05 |
Southwest Pennsylvania AAA &
Fayette County Senior Workers Advocacy Team
Fayette County, PA |
Fayette County Older Workers Job Fair |
Chris Homer
chomerfayaaa@fccaa.org
|
9/21/05 |
Northumberland County AAA
Sunbury, PA
|
Older Worker Awards/
Champion of Older Workers
Presentation
|
Shirley Golden
Employment Specialist
(570) 644-4539
|
9/21/05 |
Olympic Area Agency on Aging
PACE (Pacific Aging Council Endeavors)
Pacific County, WA
|
Hire An Older Worker
SCSEP 40th Anniversary
Celebration
|
Belinda Price
Title V Program Manager
(800) 801-0050
|
9/22/05 |
SCSEP
State of Delaware
New Castle, DE
|
NEOWW Celebration
|
Bill Abernathy
SCSEP Program Administrator
(302) 255-9361
william.abernathy@state.de.us
|
9/22/05 |
Easter Seals New Jersey SCSEP
Mercer County, NJ
|
Participant Meeting Mercer County Hospital Hamilton Conference Center |
Jonez Brown SCSEP Resource Specialist (609) 984-8247
|
9/22/05 |
SER de New Mexico-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
Catron County Citizens Group
Reserve, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Tina Sanchez
(505) 268-4500
|
9/22/05 |
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
SCSEP
Tallahassee Senior Center
Tallahassee, FL
|
Awards Ceremony
Guest Speaker: Charles T.
Wells, Florida Supreme
Court Justice
|
JoAnn Williams
SCSEP State Director
(850) 414-2065
|
9/22/05 |
Massachusetts State and
Local SCSEP Agencies
Boston, MA
|
SCSEP- 40 Years of Service
to the Mature Worker
Awards Ceremony
|
Gene Williams
(617) 727-7750
|
9/22/05 |
Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast SCSEP Mobile, Al
|
Employer Recognition Reception |
Debbie Edmonds SCSEP Program Manager (251) 433-4900
|
9/22/05 |
Southwest Pennsylvania AAA
Fayette County, PA
|
County Commissioners Older Workers Proclamation |
Chris Homer
chomerfayaaa@fccaa.org
|
9/22/05
|
Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming Counties S.S.A. Inc.
PA Dept. of Aging-Title V
Wilkes-Barre, PA
|
Awards Luncheon
Ramada Inn
|
Philip C. Semenza (570) 822-1158 ext. 318
PSemenza@aging.luzerne-wyoming.org
|
9/22/05
|
Puerto Rican Unity for Progress, Inc. (PRUP, Inc.)
SCSEP
Camden, NJ
|
National Employ Older Workers
Week- Breakfast Guest Speaker: Nilsa Perez Cruz
Attending: Gwendolyn Faison, City of Camden Mayor
Carmen D. Perez, PRUP Executive Director
|
Maria Desher Ana Velez
SCSEP Case Managers (856) 541-1418
|
9/23/05 |
Tennessee WIA One-Stop Career Center System Statewide |
Older Workers Open House 10am-2pm |
Paulette Osborne
(615) 741-8777
paulette.osborne@state.tn.us
|
9/23/05 |
New Mexico Aging and Long- Term Services Dept. SCSEP
New Mexico Workforce Connection
SER Santa Fe-Jobs for Progress
Santa Fe Dept. of Labor
New Mexico Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation
AARP
Santa Fe, NM
|
Community and business
focused activities
Governor’s and City’s
proclamations
|
Maggie Lujan
(505) 473-5831
|
9/28/05 |
IL Area Agency on Aging
National ABLE Network
John Wood Community College
Quincy, IL
|
Class on Retirement
“Changing Careers”
|
Lana Clark
(217) 223-7904
|
9/28/05 |
Illinois Dept. of Aging
Springfield, IL
|
Statewide luncheon and
older worker/employer
award ceremony
|
John Geyston
(217) 782-5039
|
9/29/05 |
Prince Georges County Office of The
County Executive
Prince George’s Community College
Maryland AARP
Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning
Commission (MNCPPC)
Prince George’s County Department
of
Family Services
Area Agency on Aging
Prince George’s Community College
SAGE Program
Largo, MD
|
50Plus Job Fair
|
The Job Fair Team
(301) 265-8490
50plusjobfair@co.pg.md.us
|