Want to work?
Five promising areas for seniors
Some jobs boast flexible hours,
need minimal training; other gigs differ
8:55 PM, Dec. 31, 2011
Written by DAVE CARPENTER Associated Press
Seniors looking for work often look first in their primary career field to find a satisfying job.
But that may not pan out. Or maybe they want to go in a different direction. Now the question is matching their desires and skills with employers' needs.
Here's a look at five job categories with promising demand now and in the years ahead for retirees willing to tackle something different:
Health care: Home health aide and personal aide top a Bureau of Labor Statistics list of job fields expected to grow the fastest by 2018. The pay is modest -- median wages of roughly $20,000 for each in 2008. But caregiving work can be a good fit for those looking to work 20 to 25 hours a week and do something meaningful.
Flexible work arrangements, substantial health care benefits, and training and development opportunities make the jobs appealing to many older workers, according to Jean Setzfand, director of financial security for AARP.
Health care facilities will likely recruit among older professionals to match their clients. A third of the 70,000 caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care, the world's largest provider of in-home caregiving services, are over 65.
Other health jobs in demand that don't require special degrees include medical assistant, physical therapist aide and medical billing specialist.
Retail: Openings are frequent, hours are flexible and many part-time opportunities are available.
Many retailers welcome seniors as customer service employees or cashiers because they have found that older workers are very good at making customers happy, according to Bill Coleman, vice president at RetirementJobs.com. Other retail jobs available for seniors may include retail manager, floor supervisor, stock-room associate, greeter or food company demonstration worker.
Seasonal work also gives retirees ample opportunities.
Government: The Department of Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov/jobs) and the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov/jobs) -- are known for seeking older workers. Both agencies have openings requiring little or no experience.
The VA likes older workers in customer service, nursing and counseling positions. "Older people have more patience and tend to come across as more caring and nurturing -- that's what we hear from employers," Coleman says.
The TSA, with over 450 work locations around the country, has jobs as screeners or otherwise dealing with passengers and customers. It values flexibility and reliability in its employees -- two traits older workers are known to offer.
Computer work: One of the most popular profession switches for older workers and retirees is going into computer-related work, according to Jim Toedtman, editor of the AARP Bulletin. The jobs entail such tasks as data entry or working with data communication systems and networks. Specific training is required and is often available at community colleges.
Temp agencies: Like seasonal retail work, temporary help in an office or elsewhere can be an ideal match for an older worker and employer. The worker offers flexible hours and experience and gets the opportunity for new challenges and limited-term working assignments that sometimes lead to full-time positions.
The largest staffing services firms -- including Adecco, Manpower and Kelly Services -- have thousands of office locations among them and hire on behalf of employers in many fields ranging from medical and information technology to teaching and teleservices.
