DON’T MISS A KEY DEMOGRAPHIC...HIRE PERENNIALS (Older Skilled Workers)
A rising category that continues to gain traction in a tight labor market is the older worker. Just tell those over 55 that they need to retire and many will tell you very quickly…why should I do that! I have so much knowledge and experience to give and I don’t want to stay home. I really want to contribute and still be productive.
So what is a perennial? Here is the Google definition
per·en·ni·al
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring
The last wave of the baby boomer generation s is reaching their mid-50s, there is no evidence to suggest they will be in a hurry to retire. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting that by 2024 workers that are over 55 will be the largest segment of that country’s workforce.
It’s not hard to find these folks; many can be recruited and they have valuable skills, a strong work ethic and they still wish to contribute. What they require is more flexibility on the employer’s part, many are seeking part-time and fewer hours.
ELIMINATE THE MYTH ABOUT OLDER WORKERS
Let’s try to dispel the myth that older workers are slow and less productive. There is some research about the perception that older workers are less productive…the AARP found exciting new research by German economist Axel Borsch-Supan. He found that there is some reduction in productivity for very unskilled jobs. But with knowledge-based jobs, you see an increase in productivity with age. Then it levels off. It doesn’t go down.
A few years back I wrote about coming across this labor pool purely by accident as a retail manager. We tapped into this pool for Office and Customer Service roles within the company. The myth and bias including my own that I had to overcome included; older workers tend to be more methodical and slower.
I found just the opposite was true, in fact; they proved to be very committed, had lower absenteeism rates, and had higher overall accuracy.
So pull out your list of alumni, those that have retired, check in on them and you might find that a former sales associate now wants to return and just work part-time, maybe do something different in administration or the office.
What have you got to lose? Perennials are going to be significant and active contributors in the decades to come. So make sure you don’t ignore this hidden gem category. After all, everyone wants people that will show up, do their job, and contribute in the workplace. In addition, blending this group is a plus benefit too. I think there is a lot of knowledge that can be shared both ways across the board and generations!
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Bill O’Malley is President of Connector Team Recruiting a firm headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia specializing in the Furniture | Appliance and Sleep verticals. Connector Team is a full-service Search Firm offering permanent placement recruiting and interim staffing solutions.
Feel free to contact Bill at bill@connectorteamrecruiting.com.
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