Futuríveis
quarta-feira, julho 06, 2005
Old hands back in demand in the global workforce
...
"We all get older - but at Westpac, that's not a barrier to getting a job," it said. "You've got the life experience - we've got the customers who want to talk to people like you."
Three years ago, the Australian bank committed itself publicly to recruiting 900 employees aged over 45 by the end of 2005. Its aim was to prepare for expected labour shortages as the working-age population in Australia starts to decline. People over 45 now account for the main growth in the labour supply, the reverse of 20 years ago.
By last month, Westpac had exceeded its target, hiring 951 "mature age" candidates to its branches and call centres. "We have recruited many people who had planned to retire but then found it financially challenging," says Ross Miller, business unit consultant at the bank, one of Australia's largest employers.
Skills gaps, customer demand and the need to retain knowledge are three of the main factors driving employers who have started to take older workers seriously. Some sectors are already top-heavy with employees nearing retirement. In the US, aerospace, defence, education, healthcare, financial services and utilities face skills shortages.
"It will be an issue for particular companies," says Kevin Wesbroom of Hewitt Associates, the international human resources consulting firm. "It might not be the totality of their workforce, but in some skilled areas where they can't rely on past practice of armies of youngsters coming in."
...
FT.com / By industry / Telecoms - Old hands back in demand in the global workforce THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF OLDER WORKERS
"We all get older - but at Westpac, that's not a barrier to getting a job," it said. "You've got the life experience - we've got the customers who want to talk to people like you."
Three years ago, the Australian bank committed itself publicly to recruiting 900 employees aged over 45 by the end of 2005. Its aim was to prepare for expected labour shortages as the working-age population in Australia starts to decline. People over 45 now account for the main growth in the labour supply, the reverse of 20 years ago.
By last month, Westpac had exceeded its target, hiring 951 "mature age" candidates to its branches and call centres. "We have recruited many people who had planned to retire but then found it financially challenging," says Ross Miller, business unit consultant at the bank, one of Australia's largest employers.
Skills gaps, customer demand and the need to retain knowledge are three of the main factors driving employers who have started to take older workers seriously. Some sectors are already top-heavy with employees nearing retirement. In the US, aerospace, defence, education, healthcare, financial services and utilities face skills shortages.
"It will be an issue for particular companies," says Kevin Wesbroom of Hewitt Associates, the international human resources consulting firm. "It might not be the totality of their workforce, but in some skilled areas where they can't rely on past practice of armies of youngsters coming in."
...
FT.com / By industry / Telecoms - Old hands back in demand in the global workforce THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF OLDER WORKERS
posted by CMT, 10:11 da manhã
