Let’s work together to define best practices that will help us retain and develop the next workforce.
Employers approach the so-called aging workforce issue in different ways*.
- What me worry? We don’t need to…
“We have a good mix of ages represented within the organization, so we are not worried about the loss of our older workers. And the services we offer are such that age works in our favor. Our clients prefer more seasoned advisors.”
- I’m worried and I don’t have the answer.
“Our region is losing more and more people, while holding on to those who are not contributing as they once did. We need to bring people back to the city and the workforce. Sorry I don't have a solution for this one.”
“I believe that the aging workforce is a fact - not a problem. As a strategic partner, HR will have to adapt. In many ways I believe this is an opportunity... “
*These comments are based on excerpts of responses from an electronic survey conducted by the TRWIB and PHRA, Pittsburgh Human Resources Association, in September 2007. The goal was to better understand the employer perspective about the aging workforce issue before the annual PHRA conference. Individual respondent names and the organizations that they represent are not included on this web page and are not available due to confidentiality policies.
This forum and other TRWIB initiatives were intended to help unravel the underlying HR challenges that accompany the changes and uncover the best practices some organizations have put to the test.
~Tommy Johnson, TRWIB President and General Manager – Government Affairs, CONSOL Energy; Remarks at the TRWIB’s Aging Workforce forum on 10.19.07:
Welcoming Remarks
Tommy Johnson, president of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, TRWIB, and General Manager, Government Affairs for CONSOL Energy, opened the TRWIB forum. He described the Aging Study conducted by the TRWIB and Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Economic Development, Managing the Changing Workforce in Southwestern Pennsylvania: A Closer Look at Issues Related to Our Region's Aging Workforce. The study investigated industries in the region that are predicted to be highly affected by the aging workforce, described each industry environment, and proposed steps to prepare for the aging workforce. Mr. Johnson described the work of the TRWIB as representing the voice of business in the workforce development arena.
Ron Painter, CEO, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, TRWIB, re-iterated the goals for the event including:
- To raise awareness and understanding of the aging workforce in our region
- To help unravel human resource challenges surrounding the aging workforce
- To present employer best practices
- To discover and address workforce issues that are most critical to attendees
At the TRWIB 2007 forum and in other initiatives, we have examined several subject tracks impacted by shifting demographics in the region:
The Center ON AGING & WORK at Boston College works in partnership with decision-makers at the workplace to design and implement rigorous investigations that will help American workplaces prepare for the opportunities and challenges associated with the aging workforce.
The Center’s State Initiatives Institute focuses attention on those issues related to aging and work that are most relevant to state leaders, including the role of state agencies as employers as well as state leaders as policy-makers: www.bc.edu/agingandwork
TRWIB is pleased to have worked with The Center in conjunction with the 2005 – 2006 Managing the Changing Workforce in SW PA study.
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes
Ph.D., Director
pittcats@bc.edu
Michael A. Smyer Ph.D., Director
smyer@bc.edu
|
