East Orange’s Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training hosted its first Senior Workforce Development Job Fair last week, drawing more than 200 job seekers ages 60 and up.
The job fair, held at the East Orange Senior Center, matched more than a dozen local companies with senior citizens looking for either full-time or part-time work.
The city officially launched the Senior Workforce Development Program in July by employing seniors to work periodically at city events throughout the year.
“Seniors bring a wealth of history and institutional knowledge about the City of East Orange that makes them ideal ambassadors for the city,” said Mayor Lester E. Taylor III. “It is also a great opportunity for us to enhance and promote intergenerational diversity among our workforce.”
Another five seniors were hired specifically to assist in processing the growing number of seniors looking for jobs. Their duties include orientation, pre-screening, review of Social Security/HUD guidelines and job placement.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of working seniors has steadily been rising and has more than doubled since 1990.
Participating companies at the fair included United Community Corporation Newark, Quality Health Care, Metro Public Adjustment, Inc., Community Coach, First Student Bus Company, E&S Home Care Solutions, Home Depot, Sodexo, Tri-City Peoples, East Orange Public Library, Council for Airport Opportunity, Cavalry Staffing and Food Service Training Academy.
