AARP expands online career services for 50 workers with RetirementJobs.com relationship

In response to the aging of Americaís workforce and the most serious economic downturn in years, AARP is broadening its online career services for 50 workers through a new collaboration with RetirementJobs.com. This new service will provide mature workers the opportunity, at www.aarp.org/jobs, to search for full time, part time and flexible jobs from age-friendly employers.

The new online venture will allow AARPís nearly 40 million members and others to have direct access to RetirementJobs.comís job search tools at no cost. As part of this new collaboration, RetirementJobs.com and AARP will identify employers that maintain policies, practices and programs consistent with employment of people age 50 and older based solely on their proficiency, qualifications and contribution. Additionally, Bob Skladany, RetirementJobs.comís vice president of research and chief career counselor, columnist and blogger, will bring his expertise as an online career coach to AARP.org.

ìGiven that nearly half of AARPís members are currently working, our new collaboration with RetirementJobs.com will add great breadth to AARPís career site by providing our members opportunities to find job openings and transition into new jobs,î said Deborah Russell, AARPís Director of Workforce Programs. ìWe are equally delighted that Bob Skladany will be bringing his job-seeking and recareering expertise to AARP members and other 50 Americans.î

ìWe are committed to working closely with AARP to meet the growing career needs of people over 50,î said Tim Driver, CEO of RetirementJobs.com. ìThere is a unique opportunity in the years ahead for our organizations to have a real impact, helping people make a life change and achieve greater overall personal satisfaction and financial security.î

In addition to being the exclusive job search engine provider for AARPís Career site, RetirementJobs.com will offer advice to individuals entering or reentering the workforce via Skladanyís contributions to AARPís The Water Cooler (www.aarp.org/thewatercooler), an online discussion group about career issues and AARPís blog, ShAARP Session (www.shaarpsession.org).

The online collaboration comes on the heels of an AARP economic survey1 (May, 2008) that found that 81 percent of all Americans ages 45 and over say the economy is in fairly bad or very bad condition. The survey showed that more than one in four older workers (27 percent) say they postponed plans to retire because of the recent downturn. Additional AARP research found that nearly eight in 10 Boomers said that they planned to work into their retirement years. Recent AARP surveys have found that those planning to work into their retirement years primarily are doing so to earn needed, additional income, maintain health benefits or, in some cases, to remain active and gain personal enrichment.

AARPís new relationship with RetirementJobs.com, part of the extensive expansion of its online career services, also comes at a time when 50 plus workers are playing an increasingly important role in the labor force. Fifty and over workers already represent 28 percent of the workforce, and projections show that, by 2016, that figure will jump to 33.5 percent, more than one in three in the labor force.

AARP is committed to helping its members and others find jobs through a variety of resources. The Association connects 50 workers with employers who recognize the value of experience and skills through the National Employment Team (www.aarp.org/employerteam). National Employment Team employers undertake a detailed application process to demonstrate their interest in hiring mature workers. AARP also offers tips and tools on how to successfully transition into new job opportunities through www.aarp.org/money/work/.

1 Source: AARP: ìThe Economic Slowdownís Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americansî (May 2008) Download at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/economy_survey.pdf