Seniors in the Workforce in Greensboro, North Carolina

In recent years in Greensboro, North Carolina the number of working seniors as a percentage of the workforce seems to have increased dramatically. Whether this is the result economic pressure and inflationary costs reducing the buying power of seniors on fixed income or the recent change that removed the income limitations, which had been placed on seniors receiving social security benefits, is uncertain. I would expect it is a combination of the two.

While many of Greensboro's seniors work part time in order supplement retirement income a sizable number continue to work full time either on the jobs they have held throughout their work life or in completely new, but related fields of work.

A large percentage of seniors who elect to continue working beyond the normal retirement age include those who possess a particular talent or skill that has been gained through 30 - 40 years of job experience and as a result is very difficult to replace.

In Greensboro examples of which I am aware include a 72 year old President of a profitable international fiber glass manufacturing company, who because of his knowledge of the market, customers and the product is deemed irreplaceable, and a 74 year old colorist/fabric dyer who having retired on three occasions continues to work 40 hours a week developing and formulating color formulas for his former company because no one else has proven capable of matching his dye formulation results.

The irreplaceable experience factor is not limited to white collar employment in the Greensboro area. In one of the local farm supply companies an 82 year old tractor mechanic remains on the job 40 hours a week repairing and overhauling tractor engines just as he has for the past 54 years, while just across town an 83 year old female retiree from two previous career jobs works in the Deli section of a large grocery chain store for 20 hours a week. (In conversation with this remarkable lady I learned that she would prefer working full time, but that full time work would reduce her pension earned after retiring from the same company).

Perhaps the most popular job for senior men in Greensboro is to work either full or part time in one of the many Home Improvement stores in the area. Here, seniors with skill or experience in work trades can apply their knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, electrical repair, painting, roofing, dry-walling, landscaping and any number of skills directly to the benefit of less experienced customers.

I personally benefited from the assistance of one of these seniors (a 69 year old) who on advising me how to make a plumbing repair asked if I knew how to solder a pipe joint. When I replied I did not, the old man smiled and led me to the plumbing aisle at which point he found two short pieces of pipe, solder, flux and a small gas-fired torch with which he demonstrated the procedure. When he finished the demonstration he asked me to repeat it, which I did to his satisfaction. This was an invaluable service to me, and one that I have found only in the 'senior' advisors in these stores....Such service is also an invaluable asset to the Home Supply store as I will never forget this assistance over and above the norm.

A popular part time position for senior women who elect to work in order to stay active and be around people rather than work for income is found in working as hostess in one of many fast food restaurants. Senior women are employed on four-hour morning shifts to meet, greet and enjoy relating with regular customers. In this role they assist in-house diners by bringing them napkins, straws, refilling coffee and playing with small children. These jobs fill an important need for seniors to stay actively involved with other, and especially, younger, people. As one such hostess once told me, "I love this job....and would gladly do it even if they didn't pay me".

One field that has recently opened for both men and women seniors is that of retail clerk in the large retail chain stores. Seniors can be found working part and full time selling men's and women's clothes, house ware items, shoes, hardware, appliances and virtually every item in the store. Recently, while shopping in the men's department of a local chain store I was greeted by a former High School teacher of mine, who after 40 years of teaching retired only to began a career in menswear sales.

Recently, our city has welcomed several large customer service call centers to the area. Initially these call centers recruited and hired mostly young people, but as turnover and absenteeism became an increasingly large problem they began to experiment with the hiring of seniors and were pleasantly surprised to learn how effective and (most importantly) dependable this 'new' workforce was. Today many senior men and women are employed in call centers here, servicing healthcare, banking and credit card company customers. Unlike some of the sales jobs cited above the call centers offer work which does not require seniors to be on their feet for several hours at a time and as such reduces the chances of a health problem to which many seniors are susceptible.

As in the above example of the 83-year-old female retiree many seniors are hired by and enjoy working in the many grocery chain stores in the area. Most work part time as cashiers, stock persons, and assisting customers by bagging groceries. These jobs do require seniors to be on their feet during working hours and as a result most employers limit senior working hours per day to avoid potential health problems including muscle weakness, arthritic flare-ups, and vascular-related disorders, which can result from excess time standing on hard surfaces.

Local hospitals are among the cities largest employers. Seniors can now be found working in larger numbers as administrative and admission clerks, telephone operators and receptionists. The hospitals have found seniors to be ideal for these jobs that are often rejected by younger job seekers who prefer to be in a less physically restrictive job.

Large retail bookstores are also learning that seniors provide an excellent workforce and as a result hire many seniors on a part time basis. The bookstores have learned that seniors are not only well versed in literature but also are very flexible in filling work shifts younger employees reject. Weekends and nights that are difficult to fill with younger employees present no problems for seniors for whom every day is a weekend (time off from work) and every night is a free night.

Relative to job skills, experience, interests, and availability seniors can find employment in Greensboro. In that respect job availability is not unlike that of younger job seekers. One major difference however, is that most employers will hire seniors primarily on a part time basis at relatively low wages and will offer few or no benefits.

My expectation is that the number of seniors in the workforce will continue to increase, not only to meet their own needs to remain active and provide supplemental income, but also to fill a very important niche in the workforce.

In my dealings with seniors in the workforce I have been impressed with their job knowledge, which is often based on 40+ years of experience. Whether one is seeking advice with a plumbing repair, buying a good book, or being fitted in a new suit, seniors can provide invaluable assistance.

It is my opinion that seniors in the work force are a win - win situation for both the senior and the employer.