No Man's Land: Too Old to Hire, Too Young to Retire

This article drew on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and a series of surveys of older workers who were laid off by the recession to document the challenges faced by men and woman over 55 in the workplace, concluding that “the employment challenge today for older Americans stems from a series of complex economic, social, and demographic factors and trends…These factors and trends raise essential policy issues that require our attention to ensure that older Americans who want and need to work can do so” (p.5). (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)

To reflect new demographic trends and fiscal realities, the author recommends that policymakers and practitioners: • “Change incentives that support work among older workers and encourage employers to keep such workers on the job” (p.35). • Direct resources toward older workers to help them acquire those skills needed for in-demand jobs (p.35). • Use worker preparation and support resources more creatively to effectively serve aging Baby Boomers (p.35). • Provide more postsecondary access, support, and accommodation to “older workers who may be limited in participating fully in educational attainment and the labor market” (p.35). (Abstractor: Author and Website Staff)

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Resource Publication Date: 2013
• Author(s): Krepcio, Kathy
• Organizational Author(s): John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Resource Availability: Publicly available
• Posted by: Wesley Peterson
• Posted in: Workforce System Strategies