HOPKINS JOINS AARP PROJECT TO PUT AND KEEP OLDER AMERICANS IN WORKFORCE

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Office of Corporate Communications
Media Contact: Gary Stephenson
410-955-5384; [email protected]
February 28, 2005

HOPKINS JOINS AARP PROJECT TO PUT AND KEEP OLDER AMERICANS IN WORKFORCE

The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, including the Bayview Medical Center, announced today that it will participate in a major new program developed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Foundation to help Americans aged 50 and over to find jobs and stay in the workforce. 

Hopkins joins 12 other prominent organizations as "Featured Employers" committed to an aggressive program of recruiting, hiring and retaining mature workers.

Other participating employers are Adecco, AlliedBarton Security Services, Borders Group, Inc., Express Personnel Services, Kelly Services, Manpower Inc., MetLife Inc., Pitney Bowes, Principal Financial Group, The Home Depot, Universal Health Services and Walgreens.

The overall goal of  AARP Foundation’s Workforce Initiative is to connect mature workers with job opportunities by linking them with skills assessment tools and training resources. The program also will help match those in search of full or part-time jobs or new careers with companies who value their experience.

"The strength of this program involves commitment on the state and local level working with both the public and private workforce sectors to provide connections for mature workers seeking employment," says Ronald R. Peterson, President of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. "We see this as a win-win for Hopkins and for the community." 

 “We are working with these forward thinking businesses to increase the impact of an aging workforce on the economy,” stated Jerry Florence, AARP Foundation Director. “We want to improve the economic well being of mature workers seeking employment and build awareness of the need for and value of the older worker,” continued Florence. 

Last February the AARP Foundation announced its first hiring partnership, with The Home Depot, to attract, motivate and retain eligible older workers as part- and full-time associates in new and existing stores across the country.  Immediately and throughout the year, hundreds of thousands of inquiries have been received from AARP members and others interested in employment.

According to AARP, by 2010, almost one in three workers will be at least 50.  As boomers begin to approach retirement age, the pool of replacement workers will not be large enough to meet employers’ labor demands.  In working with the AARP Foundation, Featured Employers have recognized the need to prepare for the changing workforce.  Job seekers can visit AARP’s website to learn about each Featured Employer, including types of jobs available, benefits, and how to apply. The website provides a link to applications, instructions and additional information at each company. 

Featured Employers, company descriptions and links to applications are available at http://www.aarp.org/featuredemployers.  Job search assistance and resources geared towards the 50-plus worker can be found at http://www.aarp.org/careers. 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that represents people aged 50 and older.  The AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity.

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