Goodwill® Celebrates National Employ Older Workers Week

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Employ Older Workers Week — September 20 – 26, 2015 — commemorates the contributions and achievements made by U.S. employees over the age of 55. The goal of National Employ Older Workers Week is to raise awareness of this growing yet underused labor segment and develop innovative strategies to employ older workers.

In recognition of the valuable contributions made by this segment of the workforce, Goodwill Industries International is proud to once again take part in the annual commemoration. Goodwill® is one of only 15 national nonprofit organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor to administer the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) to provide assistance to older workers. When seniors come to Goodwill, job coaches deliver a thorough needs assessment, create individual employment plans, administer basic skills classes and assist in job training placement and eventual transition to non-subsidized employment. Goodwill's SCSEP efforts have helped more than 8,502 older adults in local communities since 2006.

SCSEP, which was authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965, is the only federally sponsored employment and training program targeted specifically to unemployed individuals with low incomes, who are 55 and older. Through SCSEP, these individuals receive paid training through part-time, service-oriented positions in their communities. The program aims to promote community service while helping participants achieve fiscal self-sufficiency.

"Goodwill is dedicated to providing senior workers with the assistance they need to obtain current, viable job skills and gainful employment," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Since Goodwill's inception, the revenue generated from the sale of donated items has helped fund job training programs and community services, including those that help older Americans find meaningful work."

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who are 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the civilian workforce within the next five years. That's a two-fold increase — from 13 percent — in 2000. As the population ages, older workers become a larger portion of the labor force. Additionally, more Americans are choosing to remain employed longer and retire later than the once-standard age of 65. As these changes occur, employers must evolve to accommodate shifting labor force demographics, while older workers need to keep their skills up-to-date.

To learn more about turning your stuff into job opportunities for older workers, visit www.goodwill.org

About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with a presence in 14 other countries. Goodwill is one of America's top 20 most inspiring companies (Forbes, 2014). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,000 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food services preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2014, more than 426,000 people in the United States and Canada used Goodwill's intensive one-on-one career services to prepare for employment. In addition, more than 24 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills. To learn more, visit goodwill.org.

To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at Goodwill.org, use the Goodwill Locator app at goodwill.org/apps, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

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SOURCE Goodwill Industries International

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http://www.goodwill.org