Prospects for Career Shifts in Advanced Age Remain Optimistic - Opportunities for Career Shifts in Later Life Are Promising
Article: Opportunities Abound for Over-50 Job Seekers in Shifting Landscape
In many workplaces, the specter of age discrimination casts a long shadow over older employees. Once they reach 50, they often find themselves labeled as 'too old,' and their careers may seemingly come to a halt. However, demographic shifts and evolving employer attitudes may herald a new era of opportunities for job seekers aged 50 and above.
The coming years could see increased interest and a greater need for job changes among older workers. A recent study by AARP indicates that 24% of workers aged 50 and over are planning to make a job change this year—a higher rate than observed in the past decade. There has also been a sustained rise in labor force participation among workers 65 and older since the mid-1980s, with similar growth recorded for those in their 50s and 60s.
While the intent to change jobs is there, many older workers may face challenges in preparing for a job search and navigating the modern labor market. Around 65% of older workers have not taken any steps to prepare for a job search in recent years, with only about a quarter having updated their résumés or applied for new positions. Many older job seekers may require assistance, with 22% needing help finding job opportunities, 13% requiring assistance with résumé writing or updating, and smaller percentages needing help with navigating applicant tracking systems or career coaching. Long tenures at previous roles can also create obstacles, especially as digital hiring practices and application processes become more common.
Despite these challenges, the job market is opening up for older workers, particularly in remote and flexible roles. The rise of remote work has provided an opportunity for older workers to find part-time, flexible, or work-from-home jobs in areas such as accounting, customer service, data entry, transcription, and tutoring. Many companies now actively seek to hire experienced workers, with over 1,000 employers having signed the AARP Employer Pledge to promote age-inclusive hiring practices.
To help older job seekers successfully navigate the current job market, organizations like AARP and job platforms such as Indeed are offering targeted resources, information, and job postings specifically for older job seekers. Practical steps for older job seekers include updating résumés, leveraging digital tools such as LinkedIn and online job boards, networking with contacts, and accessing specialized job boards and support services for older workers to find age-friendly job opportunities.
In summary, older workers have a greater number of opportunities than ever to transition jobs or continue their careers, particularly with the growth of remote work and employer commitments to age diversity. However, many need targeted support to successfully navigate the current job market.
- Job-search efforts among older workers, aged 50 and above, are increasing due to demographic shifts and changing employer attitudes, with a quarter of them planning to make a job change this year as indicated by a recent study by AARP.
- To take advantage of the growing opportunities for job changes among older workers, it's crucial to prepare for a job search, update résumés, and leverage digital tools like LinkedIn and online job boards, as well as network with contacts and access specialized job boards and support services designed for older workers.
