Employment and Training for Older Workers. Policy Leadership Series
The aging of the baby boom generation and the increase in life expectancy has led to record numbers of older adults in the United States. Increasingly, older adults want or need to stay in the workforce. Older workers comprise a diverse group of individuals with various expectations, desires and abilities. As a result, definitions of exactly who is an older worker are varied. Older workers have many reasons for remaining in the work force, including needing income or benefits and wanting to stay physically and mentally healthy. Regardless of the reasons, however, older workers are the largest growing group of employees in the labor market. This paper answers the following questions about employment and training for older workers: (1) Why are employment opportunities for older workers a policy matter?; (2) How do employment opportunities for older workers affect your constituents?; (3) Which older workers have access to employment opportunities?; (4) How do employment opportunities for older workers affect business?; (5) What can be done?; (6) Have any bills on employment opportunities for older workers been recently introduced in your state?; and (7) Would you like additional information about employment opportunities for older workers? (Contains 10 sources.).