PRESS - Released July 18, 2006 - RetirementJobs.com

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Labor Shortages in Several Industries Among Factors Driving Erosion of Age Bias in the US Workplace

RetirementJobs.com Launches Survey to Gauge Change in Mindsets and Practices of Employers and Workers over 50

Wellesley, MA – July 18, 2006 –Despite public perception that age bias in hiring continues to be a major problem for companies throughout the US, many firms are actively courting older workers in order to fill critical jobs in their organizations. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a ten million person shortfall in the domestic labor supply in the next five years. RetirementJobs.com today released findings from a comprehensive examination of age bias and the changing hiring environment in the U.S. workplace. Researchers from RetirementJobs.com and Interbiznet, an authority in the electronic recruiting industry, find that early adopting employers are actively using new ways to recruit and retain workers over age 50. Key factors fueling this new trend include employers’ desire for a diverse workforce that relates well to older customers, their experience with labor shortages as baby boomers begin to reach retirement age, and the general tightening of the job market.

For a free copy of this report see: “Boomers To Bust Age Bias?”

RetirementJobs.com also announced today that it is launching an ongoing survey on the change in real and perceived age bias in the U.S. workplace. Claims and litigation statistics are inconclusive about whether age discrimination continues. Employee opinion surveys indicating that 65% to 70% of older workers experience damaging age bias are contradicted by employer claims of age 50+ worker misperception or exaggeration.

“Because of significant labor shortages, several industry sectors are aggressively looking to hire and retain workers over the age of 50,” said Tim Driver, CEO of RetirementJobs.com. “In addition, baby boomers and active retirees want to remain employed longer these days either due to necessity or desire, and that’s combining with an increased push by employers to keep or reach them. This represents the beginning of a sea-change in the US job marketplace.”

About RetirementJobs.com: RetirementJobs.com is a comprehensive resource containing tens of thousands of job listings from employers it certifies as age friendly.In addition to having the components of a state-of-the-art job board, the website offers vital and inspiring resources such as advice, news, success stories and podcasted money tips. The company is led by an experienced media, e-recruiting and human resources team.

About Interbiznet:
Interbiznet.com is widely accepted as the leading source of analysis for the Electronic Recruiting Industry. John Sumser, CEO, writes about the Recruiting Industry daily and Consults with Industry Players on Business Strategy and Development.