Employment expo to target job seekers age 50 and older

By: Beverly Harvey Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: July 29, 2008

The 50+ Works! Employment Expo will provide employment information for job seekers who are nearing or in their retirement years.

The employment expo, hosted by the AARP South Alabama office and sponsored by area agencies and businesses, will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday in the fellowship hall at the Lakeview Baptist Church at 1600 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.

You must be 50 or older, but you do not have to be an AARP member to attend the job fair, said Anna Pritchett, AARP associate state director for advocacy outreach.

More than 20 employers have signed up to participate in 50+ Works! Employment Expo, according to Ben McGhee, economic development officer with the Auburn City Economics Development Department.

This is the second year the job fair has been held in Auburn. Last year more than 200 job seekers attended the event, Pritchett said.

“We were packed to the gills,” Pritchett said.

Job seekers attend for a variety of reasons, Pritchett said. A number of people want to remain active and engaged after they reach retirement age. Others need access to health insurance or a supplement to their retirement income.

“One in five people have a traditional pension,” Pritchett said, adding that more than 50 percent of people at retirement age in Alabama depend solely on Social Security benefits.

AARP works to not only provide employment opportunities for older workers, it also promotes the hiring of people 50 and older to employers, Pritchett said.

The 50-plus demographic group provides “a relatively untapped labor source” of talented and experienced workers for employers, she said.

If You Go:

What: 50+ Works! Employment Expo

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Lakeview Baptist Church fellowship Hall

More than 20 employers have signed up to participate in the 50+ Works! Employment Expo, including:

Achievement Center — Easter Seals

AIG American General

All Clean Janitorial Service and Bay Security

Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Opelika

AuburnBank

Auburn Marriott Opelika at Grand National