The job search is much longer for these workers and many are on the brink of homelessness, often having to choose between shelter, food and medicine. The circumstances keeping these older workers in the job force vary but include loss of retirement savings due to stock market declines and the need for income to cover healthcare expenses. Nearly half of older, low-income job seekers must keep working so they don’t lose their homes.

Experience Works, America’s largest nonprofit provider of community service, training and employment opportunities for older workers, has completed a study of low-income people age 55 and older who are currently looking for work.

More than 2,000 older job seekers completed the comprehensive written survey. All of the survey respondents are enrolled in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a community service and jobs training program for low-income older workers, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and facilitated by Experience Works.

As part of this first-of-its-kind study, Experience Works also surveyed more than 700 agencies and employers who provide community service opportunities, training assignments and employment for older workers participating in SCSEP.

The study assessed:
• The reasons why older workers must return to the workforce or stay working.
• The specific life events that trigger older people to become job hunters.
• The challenges or barriers these older people face in the job market.
• The impact working has on the lives of older workers.
• The importance of various services made available to older jobless adults.
• Perceptions and attitudes towards older workers.

> Read the report