The report claims that because of job shortages and the large number of retirees in the United States, "businesses are beginning to face labor shortages, serious skills deficiencies among younger workers, and the disappearance of valuable skills as a result of mass retirements."
Says Helen Axel, "The job bank in its purest form is a labor pool with people with transferable skills who can move from one temporary position to another in a company as opposed to a contractor - specific assignment."
In recent years, an increasing number of companies have established job banks, using their retirees to build a dependable labor pool to fill temporary positions during heavy work periods. Some companies use retirees with special skills and those willing to learn such skills. The Travelers, for example, has recruited retirees to fill temporary positions in data and word processing. Companies also hire retirees who have not worked for them. The best information on the subject is contained in the New York City-based Conference Board's "Job Banks for Retirees." This report, No. 929, is available from The Conference Board, 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; $80.
"Job banks will grow in the years to come," claims Ms. Axel. "I think they will grow faster in more informal ways rather than in a structured way. They are primarily located in certain types of industries that need word processing and computer skills where lots of bodies are needed,"
Thus the trend is to job banks, which have been in existence for approximately 15 years. The best known job bank is the Travelers Companies in Hartford, Connecticut. "Although company surveys and labor force statistics indicate a growing interest in older workers," according to the Conference Board Report, "relatively few firms to date have adopted formal policies or programs that promote or facilitate continued employment of their mature workers and retirees. However, as nonstandard work arrangements gain in popularity, and labor force demographics change, opportunities for retiree employment will undoubtedly increase. One arrangement that has had promising results in satisfying both retiree and employer needs is the internal temporary pool or job bank." The report states that "Job banks appear to be prevalent in labor - and paper-intensive firms (such as banks and insurance companies), and in some manufacturing settings where particular skills are sought for technical and production jobs.
Apart from those specialized job banks, the majority of jobs filled by internal pools require clerical, data entry, and word processing skills.
"The job bank is quite informal," says Axel. "The people are known, they're retired and come back. An anomaly is the Travelers Companies, which also hires from the outside. The job bank is particularly good for someone who left the company and has a good feeling for it, and vice versa. It is good for the employer and employee. And the setup is convenient because there is no expensive paperwork and the employer does not have to go through agencies to obtain employees."
The outlook, says the report is that "the aging population and work force, as well as the growing diversity of the labor market, will focus continued employer attention on innovative approaches to retaining and regaining retiree skills."
Small Business
This is an excellent area for the 50-plus professional to explore. Small business operators often have trouble getting trained employees. A recent survey reported that hiring competent help was No. 4 on the small business most-wanted list. Small businesses offering full- and part-time positions comprise an important segment of employers. If you want to work part-time, small business is an excellent field to cultivate for work. If you have had experience in a large company, your skills will be sought after and you have a good chance of finding a full-time or temporary position with a small company that needs your talents.
You can locate small business establishments in your field by looking at the Yellow Pages, in your library, or talking with executives in your utility companies. They often have records of businesses they serve. Local newspapers are another source.
They may publish articles about the 50 or 100 top companies in your locality.
Another way to find small business establishments is to walk through the business area of your town or city. Go into the buildings and check the registry. Or ask the guard or elevator operator if there are any businesses in your field in the building. In smaller buildings without guards or elevators, knock on doors and ask to speak to the office manager. If he or she is not immediately available, talk to receptionists and secretaries about potential companies in the area in your specialty.
You'll be surprised at the information you can pick up by talking with people in different offices.
