10,000th Job Placement Reflects Trend
Micki Ferguson, a former nurse and educator,
is a notable new employee. “When Micki landed her job, we celebrated our
10,000th job placement,” says Sue Allan, Executive Director of Senior
Employment Resources, a nonprofit senior employment agency serving Northern
Virginia.
Ferguson, 64, is enthusiastic about her new job as a medical office assistant.
A former director of a hospital intensive care unit, she once put in 24-hour
shifts. Later in life, she spent long nights grading English papers after
a busy day at school. Ferguson says, “I enjoy what I’m doing now. My new
job is challenging, fun and interpersonal, but I don’t have the world
on my shoulders.”
In addition to the 10-minute commute, Ferguson appreciates her new colleagues.
“I love working with the people there. I would say their reaction to me
as an older worker has been very positive, very receptive,” she says.
Sue Allan has watched senior employment trends since Senior Employment
Resources was founded in 1983. She says, “We’re getting work for people
we never got before. All older seniors are not retired; we served adults
who were 87, 89, and 96 years in the last few months. We’re also seeing
a lot more women with professional experience who are returning to the
work force after time off raising children.”
Nationally, a new attitude towards retirement is apparent as Americans
stay healthier, keep active, and live longer. Among retirees who are 70
years or younger, 51% say they are either working or plan to work in the
future, according to a studies done for Merrill Lynch in 2005 and 2006.
The majority of baby boomers plan to keep working and earning in retirement,
according to the 2005 study report.
Micki Ferguson says, “I don’t plan a retirement date at all. I’ll work
as long as I feel I’m being effective. I think that’s what keeps me going.”
The workplace is starting to become more welcoming to older workers. Technology
has reduced the physical demands of most jobs. Many companies recognize
the need to create strategies to retain critical older workers to ensure
the continuity of expertise and stem a workforce shortage as baby boomers
retire at the traditional retirement age.
Employers cite the contributions that older workers make as a result of
their maturity, efficiency and the confidence gained through life experience.
They characterize older workers as dedicated to quality work, punctuality,
honesty and attention to detail.
Within weeks of starting her new job, Micki Ferguson also started volunteering
at SER, where she helps with intake interviews and office work. She says,
“Without a doubt, this falls into the category of loving what I do and
looking forward to getting up in the morning.”
Senior Employment Resources is a job placement service that matches companies
with job seekers age 50 and older who live in the Northern Virginia suburbs
of Washington, D.C. SER is a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization
that receives a small portion of its funding from Fairfax County. An equal
opportunity service, SER is located at 4201 John Marr Drive, Suite 236
in Annandale, VA 22003-3204. Information is available by phone at 703-750-1936,
on the web site, www.seniorjobs.org,
or by e-mail at office@seniorjobs.org
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