Back to work, on your terms: Job training, placement for older workers
With Americans living longer and the cost of everyday life continuing to rise, more older adults are choosing to work, or returning to work, to strengthen their financial footing in retirement. But reentering the workforce is not always simple. Many face obstacles like age discrimination, gaps in employment history, or the challenge of updating skills after years away from a job.
To help meet this need, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) offers employment and job training options that support older adults as they pursue meaningful work. These programs are built to connect participants with practical resources, skill-building opportunities, and guidance that can make the job search feel more manageable and more successful.
At the heart of these efforts is the Older Americans Act (OAA), a federal law created to support the well-being and independence of older adults. While the OAA is best known for funding services that help people age safely and comfortably, it also supports employment initiatives. Across the country, Area Agencies on Aging use OAA resources to offer services such as career counseling, job placement assistance and training programs that help older adults remain active in the workforce.
“We believe that every senior should have the opportunity to live with dignity and respect, and that includes having the ability to earn a living and support themselves,” said LaToya Gilmer, program manager of employment services at PCA. “Our employment and job training programs help seniors overcome the barriers they may face in reentering the workforce and provide them with the skills and resources they need to succeed.”
Locally, PCA helps connect older adults to employment and job training through the Mayor’s Commission on Aging and JEVS Career Solutions for 55+. These resources offer a range of supports, including job readiness training, job search help, and vocational training. Participants can also take part in job fairs, workshops, and job clubs, where they can build confidence, practice new strategies, and connect with employers and peers.
“PCA’s employment and job training programs provide a unique opportunity for older adults to reignite their passion for work, re-discover their self-worth, and contribute to their community in meaningful ways. For many older adults, employment and job training programs are more than just a means to a paycheck. They are a pathway to a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment,” said Wanda Mitchell, PCA director of community engagement. “Our programs help older adults build new skills, develop new interests, and connect with other people in their community. Through employment and job training, older adults can continue to grow, learn and make a difference in the world around them.”
Two major OAA-supported employment efforts highlight what’s possible when older adults are given the right tools and opportunities.
One is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides part-time, community service-based job training for low-income individuals ages 55 and older. Participants are placed in positions at community organizations, such as schools, hospitals, and government agencies, where they gain on-the-job experience. They can also help to strengthen the services those organizations provide. The goal is to help participants build skills and confidence that can support a transition into unsubsidized employment.
Another is the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) program, which offers opportunities for older adults to take part in environmental and conservation-related projects. Through partnerships with federal and state agencies, non-profit groups, and private organizations, participants may contribute to projects involving conservation, environmental research, public land efforts, and related initiatives.
Together, programs like these help older adults stay engaged, build new skills, and earn income that supports greater independence. They also benefit the wider community by matching experience and reliability with roles where those strengths can make a real difference.
To learn more about how PCA helps older adults gain job skills and find employment opportunities, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or visit www.pcaCares.org/employment-job-training.
