|
 Printer-Friendly Version
OPA News Release: [09/24/2004]
Contact Name: Jane
Norris
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Highlights Benefits in
Employing Older Americans
AARP Awards Ceremony Recognizes Best
Employers
NEW YORK—U.S. Secretary
of Labor Elaine L. Chao delivered remarks during the annual AARP
Best Employers for Workers Over
50 Awards Ceremony in New York City. The awards honored thirty-five
businesses in recognition of their creative, positive working environments for
older Americans.
“Older workers have a great story to tell and the news this year is
as good as it was last year—even better,” said U.S. Secretary of
Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Since 2001, employment among persons ages 55-64 has
increased. In fact, the unemployment
rate of older workers is 3.7 percent, which is even lower than the national
unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. And earnings for full-time older workers
have grown at a faster rater than for any other age group since 2001.
That’s a tribute to the skills, experience and wisdom that older workers
bring to the workplace.”
The AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50 Awards Ceremony pays tribute
to employers that excel in recruitment practices, continuing opportunities for
advancement, flexible work schedules and benefits for current and retired
employees.
AARP invited employers to apply for the Best Employer awards by
describing their innovative approaches to hiring older workers in an extensive
questionnaire.
“By 2008, 40 percent of the U.S. labor force will be age 45
or older, and 8 million more Americans age 55 or older will be working than we
had in 1998,” said Chao. “Older workers make up an important segment
of the U.S. population and it is important that businesses recruit and benefit
from the knowledge, skills and experience these workers have to
offer.”
September 19 marked the beginning of National Employ Older Workers
Week.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
