Benefits of Hiring Older Workers
If you are looking for employees for part-time or full-time work, don't limit yourself to students and new graduates. With the growing labour shortage, you need to look at all your options. Have you thought of hiring older workers? You might be pleasantly surprised by what they have to offer.
As a growing number of baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1964) start to retire, they are looking for ways to make extra money or to keep busy. If you are looking for staff, you'll find that these older workers have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and may be happy to spend some of their time productively working for you.
Baby boomers aren't the only older workers you should consider. Did you know that, according to an article by Statistics Canada, about one in ten seniors worked in 2006? Though most seniors worked in consumer services, business services and primary goods, 14.8% of older women worked in the health sector.
Why hire an older worker? Here are some of the benefits you can expect.
Satisfied Customers According to the Conference Board report "Gray Skies, Silver Linings: How Companies are Forecasting, Managing and Recruiting a Mature Workforce", market research shows that customers usually prefer dealing with staff their own age. Since the population is aging, more of your customers are getting older too. If you hire older workers, your older customers will appreciate it.
Service with Experience Mature workers often have excellent customer-service skills. They have years of experience in dealing with people and solving problems, besides the knowledge they've acquired working in their particular industry over the years - another plus for your business.
Loyalty and a Strong Work Ethic Once hired, older workers usually choose to stay at a job longer, which will save you time and money finding, hiring and training new staff. As well, according to a survey by the Conference Board of Canada, baby boomers are considered to be hard workers who respect authority, work well in a team and don't need close supervision. These are qualities worth considering when you look for workers.
Whether they are 65 or 70+, older workers help provide you with an experienced workforce. As long as their desire to work is present and, depending on the worker, the work is not too physically demanding, there is no reason why they can't keep working for you for years to come.
For more information, check out the section Hiring employees of the Canada Business website.
I am 58. I am unemployed. I have never had such a hard time getting work as I have this past year. In the past I have always made contact with the companies at ground level. Now this is not allowed.Now we must have a Golden Resume. One that oozes “Hire Me”. Of course the resume only gets you to the interview. Keep in mind that on our resume we must not let the recruiter know how old we are as THIS WILL surely be a red flag to the recruiter that in all probability will see your resume trashed. In the case you do make it to an interview, now you have to be someone you are not in order to impress the recruiter that maybe you still have life in you. If you get the “We will let you know” keep looking for work. The recruiter has already made their mind up even though you fooled them by making your resume look “young”. Once you stepped into “their world” they already trashed your resume but are now only being polite. If you think all this is untrue, gather some statistics. Yeah there are some who won’t agree. But if you are 55 + and a BLUE COLLAR, the majority in Canada will agree.
By Robert on October 2, 2010
Félicitation pour votre article.
Lors d’une visite chez le Rénovateur Rona, j’ai été répondu par une personne ayant 72 ans qui m’a fourni des conseils en électricité. Il était tout à fait à l’aise avec l’électricité.
Discutant d’âge, Il me mentionne que le commis le plus vieux avait 75 ans.
Ce sont des gens de métier qui travaillent quelques jours par semaine pour être actif dans notre société
Bravo à Rona qui encourage le transfert de l’expertise.
By Caroll on October 5, 2010
Thank-you for this article. As a mid life business person it seems only “smart” to hire individuals that have years of experience in life. Those lifetime of activities would only benefit my small company and provide it with stability. I have been considering the hiring of mature individuals on a more serious scale mainly due to the fact that my experience with young people has been that: not only do they need to be trained in the job but in social etiquette, manners and commitment. So many are always looking for the next door to open. The more I comment here the more I have to say on this subject. We are due to be hiring soon….I need strong, balanced, dedicated and moral individuals to work for my small company.
By Linda on October 6, 2010
I understand this section are for comments, but i’m at my wits end looking for employment. So i’m unifying this space to get the help i neeed for employment. Thank you.
By Fidelis on October 6, 2010
Hello Fidelis,
If you are looking for employment within the federal public service, you can visit Jobs.gc.ca to find opportunities and apply online.
By Canada Business on October 7, 2010
Where may I find grants or wage subsidy programs to hire a recent graduate full-time?
By Trudy Visentin on January 7, 2011
Bonjour
Consultez notre section sur les Subventions salariales. C’est un excellent endroit où effectuer une recherche de financement pour vous aider à couvrir les frais salariaux.
Nous vous souhaitons la meilleure des chances!
By Canada Business on January 14, 2011
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