Home > Case Studies Solutions > Increasing Age Diversity in the Workplace Case Study Solution

Increasing Age Diversity in the Workplace Case Study Solution

AbstractIncreasing Age Diversity in the Workplace Case Study Solution

Employers face many problems and issues as the workforce demographics increase in age diversity. Some of these issues include age discrimination, increased disability and healthcare cost, loss of expertise due to the inability of employers to retain the older employees and lack of proactive procedures and programs for older employees.

This paper focuses not only on these issues but also examines the benefits of a more age-diverse workforce and a competitive advantage employers may gain by proactively developing programs and policies to help retain and attract highly qualified older employees.

Introduction

According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report issued in 2006, the number of workers over age 55 is projected to increase significantly over the next 20 years with this demographic group projected to comprise as much as one-fifth of the nation’s workforce by 2015 (Government Accountability Department, 2006). The unprecedented aging of the world’s population and the strong correlation between aging and disability challenges employers.

Observe the listed demographic changes in the workforce, any challenges and concerns employers have with an aging workforce, and some benefits of an older workforce.  Find select academic and other related literature on employer strategies to prepare for an aging workforce and examples of successful retention initiatives.

Concerns Regarding the Aging Workforce

Employers have raised concerns on the workforce demographics and the challenges regarding the aging workforce.  Some of the employers’ challenges include increased healthcare and disability, age discrimination, career development and advancements and the lack of employer programs to retain and transfer the expertise of the older workforce.  This section also looks at the possible preparations for responding to the aging workforce.

The Demographic Landscape

Employment of people above 55 has increased to an all-time high of 40.4 percent (Bureau of labor statistics, 2010).  Data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that, by 2016, one-third of the total U.S. workforce will be age 50 or older (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010).  The growing number of older employees results in a shift in workforce demographics.  A rise in the employment of older people results in a decline of the entry-level workforce, leading to an even larger shift in the demographics (Bureau of labor statistics, 2010).

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

sixteen + 17 =