Postponing Retirement and Looking for Work
May 2, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Finance
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of Americans 55 and older who are currently working has increased by nearly 1.5 million in the last two years to more than 26 million in March 2009. Because of the recession, more and more older workers are continuing to work and postponing retirement.
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Many others want to find work but haven’t been able to do so. In that same period, the number of older workers (55 and up) who want a job but can’t find employment has more than doubled to 1.8 million.
Many companies, forced to make cutbacks of their own, have been hiring younger workers instead of more seasoned, experienced people. For those older workers who want to get a job, it’s essential that they update their skills to current technologies and get into online networking in order to compete.
If you are postponing your retirement and looking for a job, start by creating a profile on websites like LinkedIn and begin to network in your chosen niche. Though unemployment rates are higher than they have been in decades (8.5% nationally in March), there is work out there. Be flexible as to the type of job you are willing to accept and take courses, if necessary, to keep up with the latest computer programs and other technology.
