The world’s population is aging due to a lower birth rate and increased longevity. This has important implications on the economy, healthcare, as well as the workforce. In the United States, the number of workers 50+ has, in fact, increased 80% in the last 20 years with those 65+ tripling in this same time period. More than 40% of the 65+ employees intend to work for five or more years. This has resulted in a workforce of five generations that presents new challenges for their employers. While some of these organizations are adapting to the evolving needs of this multi-generational workforce, most are unprepared, and many are completely unresponsive.
In the recent study conducted by Empress Insights for The Coven, a co-working space centered on the experiences of historically under-served communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community, women and more, ageism is cited as a primary barrier to creating meaningful diverse work cultures.
The Coven co-founder, Bethany Iverson, believes, “Employers are desperate to create thriving, dynamic workplaces but lack the knowledge required to successfully bridge gaps in both perception and understanding related to age, aging, and ageism.” In fact, according to their data, 95 percent of employers have not developed specific tactics to ensure their workplace is age inclusive though nearly all (83%) believe it is. The challenge is that only 67 percent of workers agree.
Read the full article on Forbes.com
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