Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre and Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to hear from adults over 55 and employers to find out what they both want when it comes to the workplace.
Led by the Golden Circle, The Older Adult Employment Strategy Assessment Project, needs employers and adults over 55 to fill out a short online survey. Focus groups will also be held in May and June.
Amber Mack, Golden Circle executive director, said employment services are not something offered at her resource centre, but more older adults are turning to the Golden Circle for information. Staff have done their best by helping people send out resumes or directing them to employment websites.
“I’ve noticed in the last year quite a few who either want to rejoin the workforce, or want to continue on in the workforce in a different way. They’ve just had a lot of difficulty finding, returning to, or retaining that employment,” Mack said.
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She said now is the time to explore the challenges and opportunities for older adult workers and employers in Central Alberta.
“There’s so many people who are going to be reaching the age of retirement in the next five to 10 years. There’s so much knowledge about to leave the workforce.”
She said ageism does happen, but there are also employers trying to figure out ways to get the experience that older adults have either back into the workforce or how to retain it.
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Golden Circle has already held one focus group for adults over 55 to explore the barriers they face when seeking employment, and the current services or programs available to support them in gaining employment or remaining in the workforce.
“I just think it’s such a really important opportunity to gather the information. If we don’t ask the questions we’re making assumptions, and we’re missing a whole bunch of opportunity,” Mack said.
The next focus group for individuals at Golden Circle will be held May 23, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Employer focus groups will be held May 15 and June 5, at 3 to 4 p.m., at the Chamber of Commerce.
To register, contact the organization hosting the focus group.
The survey, at www.surveymonkey.com/r/EmploymentProject1, will be available until June 15 and takes about seven minutes to complete.
A summary of survey results and recommendations will be available in November.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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