Experience Works, a national not-for-profit organization that provides training and employment services to older workers is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year.

Their largest program is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act. SCSEP helps thousands of low-income individuals receive the training and experience they need to secure employment, move into new career areas, or supplement their incomes.

Experience Works serves America's aging population, 55 + years old, who are most in need. Participants of the SCSEP program find themselves living below or close to the poverty level but needing and wanting to work. Once qualified for the program, participants are placed at training sites in their community. Participants not only gain valuable workforce skills, but receive minimum wage during their training period. Training sites typically consist of local not-for profit organizations that provide supervision and training to the participant, while gaining valuable manpower hours at no cost to them. Experience Works, Field Operations Coordinator's like Jody Kean of Western Massachusetts work with local companies to find permanent employment for the participants once their training is completed.

The barriers to employment and negative stereotypes that older workers have faced are slowly changing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a shortfall of 10 million workers in

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the United States by 2010 and that 80% of the native-born workforce will be over the age of 50. As employers become aware of this information, the value and need for older workers increase. Organizations like Ad Lib Inc, Center for Independent Living, The Lee Library Association and Adams Council on Aging have embraced and supported the older workers for quite some time. Last week, Experience Works celebrated “National Employ Older Worker Week”, by recognizing these three organizations as “Champions of Older Workers”. Each of the companies has served as training sites for SCSEP participants. Ad Lib, Inc. also employed three participants after their training last year.

Experience Works has learned some powerful lessons about aging and work:

*Older workers are reliable, loyal, and dedicated to their jobs. They have a strong work ethic and a great sense of commitment.

*People who continue to work are healthier and happier.

*The only limitation to what older workers can accomplish is our expectation of them.

Experience Works is actively recruiting participants and training sites in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. For more information call 800-562-2776 or visit www.experienceworks.org.