Where do older jobseekers find work?


Diversity of Employment Opportunities for the 50+ Community

Older job seekers often find work through a variety of channels tailored to their unique skills and experiences. 

Here are some effective avenues:

1. Networking:
   - Leveraging professional and personal networks for job leads.
   - Attending industry events and local job fairs.

2. Online Job Boards:
   - Platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor.
   - Specialized sites like RetirementJobs.com, AARP Job Board, and Workforce50.com.

3. Staffing Agencies:
   - Agencies that specialize in placing older workers, such as Senior Employment Centers.

4. Local Workforce Development Boards:
   - Programs and services tailored to mature workers, offering job training and placement assistance.
   - Example: Like our NCWorks Career Center in Asheville, NC.

5. Volunteer and Part-Time Opportunities:
   - Nonprofits and community organizations often value the experience of older workers.
   - Volunteering can lead to paid positions and help build relevant experience.

6. Freelancing and Consulting:
   - Utilizing decades of expertise to offer consulting services or freelance work in their field.
   - Platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.com.

7. Educational Institutions:
   - Positions in education, including teaching or administrative roles at colleges and universities.
   - Community colleges often have programs for experienced professionals to teach or mentor.

8. Age-Friendly Employers:
   - Companies with policies that support hiring older workers, such as flexible working hours and anti-age discrimination policies.

9. Government Programs:
   - Programs like the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) offer training and job placement for older adults.

10. Small Business Development:
    - Some older job seekers choose to start their own businesses or pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, leveraging their extensive experience and networks.
    - NC Small Business Centers, including those at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Blue Ridge Community College.    

These channels provide a diverse range of opportunities suited to the needs and strengths of older job seekers.

North Carolina Common Follow-up System (CFS) 

Our partners at the NC Department of Commerce also has some insights with data from the North Carolina Common Follow-up System (CFS) to learn more about the conditions older workers experience after they lose their job, including their wage earnings and their sector of employment following layoff.

  • Where do older job seekers find work?
  • Do older workers shift from goods-producing to service-providing?
  • Do older workers take a large pay cut after being laid off?