Even near retirement age, many adults stay or return to the workforce for a variety of reasons from staying busy to needing money. Whatever the reason, there are resources available to help those seeking employment.
Free Job Resources for Workers 50+
Here are websites and organizations that can help older workers seeking training and employment help.
The National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers an online program called Job Source. It can help you identify your skills and interests and provides training: more than 30 free online courses to learn new skills and earn free job certifications.
The program also provides resources to help find jobs, write resumes and help prepare for the interview process.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides job training for older adults. Those who enter the program receive paid training. There are several different types of jobs available.
To quote the program website, “Participants must be at least 55, unemployed, and have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level. Enrollment priority is given to veterans and qualified spouses, then to individuals who are over 65, have a disability, have low literacy skills or limited English proficiency, reside in a rural area, are homeless or at risk of homelessness, have low employment prospects, or have failed to find employment after using services through the American Job Center system.”
AARP
AARP offers several different programs to assist older adults to train for and find employment. The Back to Work 50+ program offers free training, coaching and job-seeking tools.
The Work for Yourself program helps low-income seniors who want to start their own their businesses and become self-employed.
AARP also works with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), a nonprofit organization that offers free training to older adults to help them obtain the technology skills they need to gain employment.
Seniors can also go to college for free. All 50 states have schools that provide free classes to seniors. See the list of what each state offers.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Seniors can contact the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for referrals to training opportunities to meet their specific needs.
Career One Stop
Career One Stop offers resources and links to help anyone, not just seniors, with job training and assistance. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor American Job Centers
U.S. Department of Labor American Job Centers provides a wide range of employment assistance including training referrals, career counseling and job listings.
Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program
Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program (JVSG) helps veterans with job placement by providing employment services. A senior must be a veteran to qualify.
Also: Don’t forget local resources. Check with your local library, senior center and other local agencies to find out what kind of training they provide for seniors looking for work.
