The Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative

The demographic projections are clear. By 2012, nearly 20% of the total U.S. workforce will be age 55 or older, up from just under 13% in 2000. This growth in the number of older workers reflects the fact that the population as a whole is getting older due to several factors, including the aging of the Baby Boom generation, lower birth rates for generations immediately following the baby boom, and longer life expectancies.

As the 76-million Baby Boom Generation nears traditional retirement age and becomes eligible for early Social Security benefits, many U.S. companies and governments are facing a potentially significant loss of talent and institutional knowledge across key areas, including leadership, sales, and technical disciplines. While the impact of this undeniable trend will vary from industry to industry and among different job categories, many companies will be able to avoid the drain by encouraging today’s mature workers – those age 50 and over – to stay in the workforce longer.

The Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative
To address these concerns and ensure that Arizona has both opportunities for older people to work and remain self-sufficient throughout their lives, and to support business growth and development across the state in light of an aging workforce, the Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative (MWI) was launched in February 2005. This initiative is designed to raise visibility, awareness, appreciation of and employment opportunities for mature workers, while addressing labor force shortages in the business sector. In addition, the MWI aims to provide mature workers with new points of access to training that will allow them to remain competitive in the job market and to provide them connections to employers who value their experience. By developing a healthy exchange of ideas and dialog among the mature workforce, business and industry, government, and their local communities, we are able to ensure meaningful employment opportunities for mature workers and provide businesses with the ability to address at least some of the impact of an aging workforce.

To read the latest on the Mature Worker Friendly Employer Certification, click here to see this message. 

To learn more about the accomplishments of the MWI and current activities, check out the Full Report or the Executive Summary.

To search and post job and volunteer opportunities, and find out about continuing education, training, and upcoming events in your community, visit AZMatureworkers.com.