Why Hiring Older Workers Makes Sense
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Celebrates National Employ Older Workers Week
September 21-25
Older workers are a growing part of the 21st century labor force, and they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and maturity to the workplace. To celebrate their contributions and achievements, Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is observing National Employ Older Workers Week from September 21-25, 2020.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that workers age 55 and older will make up 25 percent of the labor force in 2020, up from 13 percent in 2000. Many of those senior workers will require additional training to remain competitive in today’s job market.
Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky provides critical job training and placement services to support senior job seekers in sixteen states including Kentucky through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP.) The program offers paid, on-the-job training for senior job seekers who need to supplement their incomes or are unemployed.
To mark National Employ Older Workers Week, Goodwill® has released this video featuring the stories of SCSEP trainees and graduates.
“SCSEP participants train in local agencies and nonprofits like food banks, libraries, schools and senior centers. They serve in their own communities,” said Kristin Pratt, Senior Director of Mission Advancement at Goodwill Industries International. “Public and nonprofit agencies are often stretched thin, and SCSEP allows them to supplement their workforce and expand services while helping senior job seekers develop valuable skills.”
For the 2020 program year, the U.S. Department of Labor is providing 90 percent of the funding for Goodwill’s SCSEP programs through a $20,971,372 million grant. Goodwill is providing the remaining 10 percent of funding through in-kind contributions worth $2,330,152.
The goal is to provide training and employment services for approximately 415 rural Kentuckians this program year.
Since 2017 Goodwill Industries of Kentucky SCSEP’s effort has helped more than 1800 senior workers in local communities across 54 rural counties within the state.
The ultimate objective is for SCSEP participants to raise their skill levels to meet employers’ needs, in order to build financial security for their families and to save for retirement.
CONTACT:
Sonya Johnson, Career Services Manager – SCSEP
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
844-439-3977
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 161 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 13 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities. For the past three years, Goodwill was ranked in the top five brands that inspired consumers the most with its mission in the World Value Index commissioned by the creative agency, enso. Goodwill has been on the Forbes’ list of top 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years.
Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that offer job placement and training services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,300 stores collectively and online at http://shopgoodwill.com®.
Goodwill helps people facing challenges to finding employment including, people with disabilities; veterans and military families; youth and young adults, including youth who are at risk and opportunity youth; older workers; people reintegrating into society; and others facing challenges to finding employment. Local Goodwill organizations build revenues and expand employment opportunities by contracting with commercial, state, government and non-government organizations to provide a wide range of business services, including janitorial, staffing services, food service preparation, manufacturing and contracts packing, reverse logistics, document imaging and shredding, and laundry services.
Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed more than 288,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 38 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills, and more than two million people received in-person services.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook and Instagram: GoodwillIntl
ABOUT SCSEP
SCSEP is a 54-year-old federally funded program authorized by Title V of the Older Americans Act that is dedicated to preparing older workers for the modern labor market. It is the only federally funded workforce development program explicitly designed to assist older workers. Participants must be unemployed, 55 years of age or older, and have incomes no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level and have a training need. SCSEP is currently operated by 19 national grantees and 56 units of state and territorial governments.
For more information on SCSEP opportunities, visit America’s Service Locator or call the Toll-Free Help Line at 1-877-US2-JOBS (1-877-872-5627).
