Iowa Department on Aging

Terry HornbuckleState Mature Worker Coordinator

Iowa Department on Aging

55 and Looking For Work

National demographics and trends Iowa demographics and trends Why do people 55+, 65+, 75+ continue to

work? Employment barriers Senior Community Service Employment

Program

Introduction

National population trends - 1960

National population trends 1980

National population trends - 2000

National population trends - 2020

The following chart shows the number of U.S. births from 1940 to 1994 in thousands.

Iowa population trends – 2000 Resource – Kyle Kostelecky, PhD, Iowa State University, Extension Office

Iowa population trends – 2030

Year and Sex

25-34 years

35-44 years

45-54 years

55-64 years

65 years and over

Total: 1980 27.3 19.1 15.8 11.2 2.9

2006 21.5 23.7 23.2 13.2 3.6

Men 1980 19.3 16.1 16.1 11.8 3.1

Men 2006 22.1 23.9 22.8 12.9 3.8

Women 1980

26.9 19.0 15.4 10.4 2.6

Women2006

20.8 23.4 23.7 13.5 3.4

*US Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Civilian Labor Force – Percent Distribution by Sex and Age: 1980-2006

Persons with a disability

Persons without a disability

16 years of age and over

Percent of population in labor force

22.2 71.2

Unemployment rate 16.9 9.3

65 years of age and over

Percent of population in labor force

6.9 22.2

Unemployment rate 9.6 6.4

* US Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Employment status by age and disability, National statistics - August 2009

Median earnings by Type of Disability in Iowa: 2007* State of Iowa Data Center

Average baby boomer has only saved between $30,000 and $40,000 towards retirement

Need for health care coverage Economic downturn diminished

investments Social Security pension not enough Changes in employer pension structure

reduces pension benefit amount (trend is to move away from the defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan)

Why do people continue to work past retirement?

Social Security changes results in increased work incentives (higher compensation with greater age at retirement)

Improved health and declines in physical demands of a job

Self-fulfillment Encore careers

Working longer….

Workplace prejudices◦ Older workers are seen as high in loyalty,

work ethic, reliability and experience◦ But – concern that older workers may be

less creative, less willing to take initiative, unable to work in physically demanding jobs

◦ Cost more in wages (experience) and health benefits

◦ Employers are less likely to train older workers as there is less time to recoup costs

Urban Institute, Facts Sheets on Population Aging, 2007

Barriers to Employment for Older Workers

Physical changes – ◦ decreased muscle strength◦ decreased range-of-motion◦ perceptual – visual changes starts around

age 40 (farsightedness, need for greater contrast, decrease in visual acuity)

◦ Perhaps some mild cognitive changes – short-term memory impairment

Penn State University, 2008

Employment Barriers

Technology training needs (computer training)

Educational background Transportation and rural Iowa SSI/SSDI perceived income “barrier” Adaptive needs – who will pay for

adaptations Caregiver issues (mainly a women’s

issue)

Barriers continued…

Homelessness Once unemployed, older workers take

54.7 weeks to find a job whereas younger workers take 38.9 weeks to find a new job◦ AARP May 2011 Fact Sheet

Ageism is still alive

Barriers to employment

Iowa Workforce Iowa Department of Vocational Rehab Home and Community Based Waivers

support work training and placement for certain disabled populations

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

Employment supports

Title V – Older Americans Act, administered by the Department of Labor◦ Nationwide including Guam, Puerto Rico,

Northern Marianas Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and D.C.

Goal: “To foster individual economic self-sufficiency and promote useful opportunities in community service activities…for unemployed low-income persons who are age 55 or older…”

Training to work program

Senior Community Service Employment Program - SCSEP

State residentAge 55 or more Household income 125% of federal

poverty level (family of one for 2011 -$13,613)

Unemployed at the time of application Currently not job ready (have a need

for training)

SCSEP Eligibility

State of Iowa Senior Internship Program (SIP) - administered via Iowa Department on Aging

Experience Works AARP Senior Service of America, Inc.

◦ SCSEP serves every county in Iowa

Four SCSEP Grantees in Iowa

All supplemental funding was allowed to expire (ARRA and supplemental provided for additional participants to be served)

25% across the board cut to SCSEP baseline of PY 08

Changes to the state of Iowa◦ PY 10 slot allocation (without extra

funding) 741◦ PY 11 slot allocation 579

Bad News for SCSEP, PY 11

Undergo skills assessment from which training goals are established with assistance from the provider agency staff who then follows the participant while in training

Assigned to a Host Agency - nonprofit, (501(c)(3)) or a governmental agency **

Wages (minimum wage, highest of state or federal) are subsidized via federal grant dollars while in training

Work part-time, 18-22 hours per week Cannot take the place of an employee or

empty position

Participants

Provider agency assists in job placement Participants are followed for 15 months

after obtaining a community job and if needed may return to the program if the job placement fails

Lifetime maximum of 48 months in SCSEP Continue to work with Iowa Workforce in

job seeking and training activities SCSEP training can include classroom

training, computer training, literacy education but dollars are limited

Participants -

SCSEP can provide for:◦ Annual physicals◦ Work related needs i.e. transportation

(short-term), work incidentals (clothing, eyeglasses, tools), child and adult care, temporary housing shelter and other social services to help overcome work related barriers

◦ Job related training, training supplies and materials

Participants supports

65 years of age or older Have a disability Limited English proficiency or low

literacy skills Resides in a rural area Veteran Low employment prospects Homeless or at risk for homelessness Failed to find a job using Workforce

benefits

Eligible individuals have priority for service if:

Female = 70% Minorities = 10% High school diploma or equivalent =

41% At or below poverty level = 86% Individuals with disabilities = 27% Living in rural areas = 56% Age 75 or older = 11% Veterans or qualified spouses = 22% Individuals receiving public assistance

= 56%

Who is served by Iowa’s SIP, final PY 2010 statistics

Terry Hornbuckle State Mature Worker Coordinator Jessie Parker Building 510 E. 12th St., Ste. 2 Des Moines, IA 50319 515-725-3323 800-532-3213

terry.hornbuckle@iowa.gov

Questions????