Celebrating the Older Worker!
National Employ Older Workers Week - September 24-28

National Employ Older Workers Week recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. The Committee on Economic Development indicates that employers rate older workers high on characteristics such as judgment, commitment to quality, attendance, and punctuality.

According to the US Dept of Labor, “America is witnessing a dramatic growth in the number of citizens 55 or older, a trend that will continue through the 21st century. As the population ages, older Americans will play an increasingly important role in our economy and America's leadership in the world marketplace. By 2014, 41% of Americans 55 or older will be employed, making up over 21% of the U.S. labor force."

Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP)

Easter Seals Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) provides job training and employment opportunities for eligible individuals age 55 and older.

This program has opened the door to a group of potential employees who have all the talent, commitment, and drive to help any business thrive, but have simply been unable to enter/re-enter the workforce because of challenges facing seniors in today's society. Challenges such as lack of work experience, education, transportation, housing, self-esteem, income, language barriers, health complications, and stereotypes related to age.

In order to provide the program's participants with the training and skills needed to secure permanent employment, each participant works with a staff member to complete an assessment and develop an Individual Employment Plan. The staff utilizes these tools, combined with proper training and education, to provide the participants the assistance they need to remove those barriers to employment.  

Easter Seals New Jersey then collaborates with agencies and employers to identify potential on-the-job paid training positions and long-term, permanent employment opportunities.

Easter Seals’ SCSEP program not only helps improve the quality of life for its participants, but it also provides an opportunity for the community organizations that partner with us in offering on the job training positions to meet their community service requirements.

Watch "The Value of Older Workers", a short public-service announcement video available for viewing in English, Spanish and closed captioned. 

Click here:  http://www.doleta.gov/SENIORS/html_docs/WorkplaceVideo.cfm

About SCSEP

SCSEP is administered through a U.S. Department of Labor grant that has provided funds to national grantees for the past 40 years. According to the Department of Labor, the goal of the SCSEP program is to enhance employment opportunities for older Americans, and to promote older workers as a solution for businesses seeking a trained, qualified, and reliable workforce. Awarded the grant in 2003 as a sub-grantee, Easter Seals New Jersey currently contracts to provide services to hundreds of participants annually in four New Jersey counties.

Criteria: 

• Must be 55 years or older
• Must reside in the county where services are provided
• Must have a family income not more than 125% of the established federal poverty income guidelines
• Must be currently unemployed

Counties:
Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex and Union

Contact:
Barbara Armstrong, Director | Tel: (888) 480-1527 | Email: barmstrong@nj.easterseals.com

For related information, see also our Employment Services page.