Experts: Older, steady workers could help fill job gap

• Great Falls Job Service offers Mature Talent Workshop

As the economy improves, employers might help solve their job vacancies by attracting older folks back into the workforce, Great Falls Job Service officials say.

"More and more employers from a variety of industries are saying they're having trouble finding people to fill job openings, with the shortage the keenest the last four months or so," said Lynda Sowell, Great Falls Job Service manager.

The local economy has grown, producing more job openings, but the size of the workforce hasn't grown enough to keep pace, she said, and the situation could get worse as more members of the large Baby Boomer generation, now aged 51 to 69, retire.

"At Job Service we're promoting the idea that employers look across the whole spectrum of available workers, including people who may be of retirement but choose to keep working full- or part-time to earn some money and feel useful," Sowell said.

Some can be lured back into working and have "transferrable skills," assets they learned in their earlier jobs or hobbies that can help an employer now, she said. As examples, they might have experience in business, bookkeeping, hardware, painting, picture framing, sporting goods or home and garden that reflect their previous jobs or hobbies and can transfer to a new job.

Noting that the Cascade County unemployment rate has dipped to 3.2 percent, the lowest level since the 2008 recession, Job Service workforce consultant Kari Woods suggested employers realize that most mature workers have experience, strong work ethics and stability.

Woods instructs a Mature Talent Workshop offered regularly at Great Falls Job Service that teaches such workers aged 45 and older to emphasize such favorable traits in job interviews and resumes and keep up computer and other skills.

Jim Hellen, owner of the two Great Falls Ace Hardware stores, said he is not targeting older folks for jobs any more now than he did previously, but is always interested when mature people apply for jobs "because they're usually knowledgeable, helpful folks with phenomenal attitudes."

Many of the older workers seem to enjoy their jobs "because they're doing what they want to do," he said.

At least 16 of the 82 employees at the two Ace Hardware stores are veteran workers who retired from other jobs and came back to work, most part-time but a few full-time, Hellen said. The practice used to be more common among men, but in recent years about half of the older workers are women and half men, he added.

Several specialize in roles related to their hobbies or former jobs, Hellen said, with several home gardeners working in the lawn and garden section and greenhouse, two former construction workers employed in the hardware section and a former house painter working in the paint section.

Most of the rest are sales associates who must know something about all the departments because they work the aisles and direct customers to what they need.

A majority of the older employees work part-time, usually two or three eight-hour shifts a week, to supplement their retirement income and help pay for their hobbies, Hellen said, adding that he has to be careful to schedule their shifts around their outside interests, such as regular golfing leagues.

"A few have told me they enjoy pulling a few shifts a week to get them out of the house and give them something to do," Hellen said.

Jack Barnes, who previously was in the restaurant and bar business for 42 years, has worked as a full-time sales associate at the westside Ace for two-and-a-half years.

"I do it to supplement my retirement income and I love working here," he said. "I've worked in customer service for years and enjoy dealing with people. Owning the westside Prospector for years, I seem to know about 80 percent of the customers who come into Ace. I enjoy catching up with them and directing them to the items they need."

He is knowledgeable about hardware and home maintenance, having built two homes and handled all the maintenance on his business.

Barnes said he also likes to play golf and billiards, and is glad the Ace bosses schedule his shifts around his weekly golf league and weekend pool tournaments.

Class offered for older workers

The Great Falls Job Service, 1018 7th St. S., is offering its periodic Mature Talent Workshop for folks age 45 and older on Thursday, July 16, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. The workshop fills quickly, so pre-registration is required by calling Job Service at 791-5827 or emailing kariwoods@mt.gov.

Called "Making Wisdom & Experience Counts," the Mature Talent Workshop includes group discussion and lecture tips on how to combat misconceptions, keep skills current and use techniques to frame resumes and interviews to emphasize such typical mature worker assets as strong work ethic, reliability and good communication and customer service skills.