The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has urged US Congress to help Americans aged 55+ get back into employment as part of its economic recovery plans.
Since the pandemic started, research reveals that older workers have suffered the most job losses; especially workers of colour. Much like the UK, American workers aged 55+ are struggling to get back into work after being laid off amid Covid.
In a testimony before the US Senate Special Committee on Aging, NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin called on Congress to strengthen federal age discrimination protections and enforcement; expand job placement and training services specifically for older adults; and ensure equitable access to quality job opportunities for people of all ages.
OLDER WORKERS OF COLOUR WORST HIT
“Over the past year, older adults have felt the devastating impact of Covid-19 on their employment status,” stated Alwin said. “As of March, over 1.7 million older workers remain unemployed. The drop in employment among older workers of colour was twice that of Whites. If we are not intentional in targeting our policy solutions, the economic impact of these job losses will position too many older adults to age into poverty.”
According to the latest US Census data, the percentage of Americans aged 65+ over has increased 35%; and will continue to rise as baby boomer enter their 60s and beyond. As longevity climbs and Americans struggle to save for retirement, work is essential to affording a longer life. This is especially true for older women and people of colour.
KEY AREAS OF SUPPORT
Specifically, NCOA is urging Congress to:
- Pass legislation to restore and strengthen age discrimination protections.
- Increase annual funding and provide significant recovery investments in the US Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program; the only federal programme dedicated to training and placing disadvantaged older adults into jobs.
- Explicitly include and prioritise older workers in expanded and new workforce development efforts.
- Promote work and financial security with caregiver support, family and medical leave, income support and benefits access.
SOUL DESTROYING AGEISM
Alwin is also calling for increased federal leadership and resources. “An Older Workers Bureau housed at the Labor Department could lead a focused effort across federal agencies to maximise older adults’ workforce participation; which would be good for older adults, employers and society.”
People aged 50+ in the UK also face early retirement forced on them without urgent Government support as long-term employment prospects fall amid Covid-19, according to recent studies. Often stereotyped as ‘too experienced’, many older workers are continuing to be disadvantaged and discriminated against during their job search, reveals a new report, revealing ‘soul destroying ageism’, as reported.
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