Operation A.B.L.E. of Greater Boston Today

Operation A.B.L.E., 501(c)3 organization, now stands at the leading edge of a phenomenal demographic shift, one that is likely to influence every aspect of American society: the baby boomer retirement years.  

Over the next 23 years or so, nearly 80 million people born in the United States between 1946 and 1964 are expected to reach retirement age. While this historic transition will have profound consequences in areas such as housing, healthcare, travel, and education, it will likely be felt first in the workplace.  

With only an estimated 48 million Generation X workers – today’s workers born after 1964 – available to fill the jobs of a departing workforce, employers will be looking for ways to keep their organizations fully staffed, productive, and competitive. In addition to programs and incentives to encourage their older workers to stay longer on the job, many human resource managers have begun tapping into the growing population of mature workers to fill vacancies.

The U.S. Department of Labor expects mature workers to make up 19.1 percent of the U.S. labor market by 2012, up from 14.3 percent in 2002. In Massachusetts, 13.5 percent of the population in 2000 was 65 and older; a figure that the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth predicts will jump to 18 percent by 2025. (Florida is now the only state with 18 percent of the population age 65 and older.) 

Mature job seekers come from a broad range of social and economic backgrounds. Many have:

• Already retired and are having difficulty living on limited social security, life savings, and pension (if any) income;
• Been laid off due to downsizing and are unable to find work in their particular professional or occupational specialties;
• Lost their jobs because of age discrimination. 

These individuals comprise a burgeoning pool of available talent that is, according to the Society of Human Resources Management, flexible about working different schedules and more loyal than younger workers who typically change jobs to advance their careers. 

Yet, in many cases older workers face formidable barriers to reentry into the workforce. They need to learn new skills and practices that make them attractive candidates for the employment possibilities open to them. For 25 years, Operation A.B.L.E. has been committed to helping mature workers from diverse backgrounds lower these barriers through training programs that increase their skills, confidence, and employability.

Job Search Resources including a Resource Room with computer stations and fast internet connections for writing resumes and cover letters and conducting online job searches. Employment listings and job fair announcements are posted as well. Individual coaching and counseling sessions are available for modest fees, as well as individualized computer skills training. 

Training Options include the ABLE W.E.A.T, a 14-week (350 hours) classroom and internship  program leading to a rewarding position in sales, customer service, manufacturing, energy auditing; Skills2Work, a 20-week computer and administrative/office skills training program that incluldes a six-week employer-based internship; and individual classes in QuickBooks, Medical Terminology, and PowerPoint.

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is available for low-income mature job seekers 55 and older who live in Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties and meet the income guidelines. This creative Department of Labor program allows the job seeker to earn a stipend while conducting community service at a non-profit or government agency, get on-the-job training, and learn how to search for a job. The ultimate goal is to find unsubsidized work.

Resources for Massachusetts Employers

Providing well-qualified mature candidates to meet employers’ needs -- Operation A.B.L.E. can help you meet your recruitment needs with well-trained students from A.B.L.E.’s classes, as well as from our Job Fairs for Mature Workers or A.B.L.E. SHOWCASES. A.B.L.E. posts resumes online for employers to review and employers can post job openings. 

Providing individual and group outplacement services to mature workers who have been downsized from companies -- Operation A.B.L.E. works with the individual until the candidate finds a new employment opportunity. 

Providing training to employees in such areas as: recruiting, retaining, retraining, and developing effective retirement strategies for the mature worker. Operation A.B.L.E. can also provide workplace instruction in basic skills, customer service, computer technology and supervisory training. Operation A.B.L.E. can also provide onsite case management assistance and career counseling to employees.

Providing A.B.L.E. Temps services to companies -- Individuals can be put on A.B.L.E.’s payroll while you “try someone out” at your company. 

Providing an opportunity to celebrate outstanding workers 50 or older at A.B.L.E.’s Celebrating Experience Breakfast. Companies can nominate as many outstanding workers as they wish, depending on their level of sponsorship. Awardees’ accomplishments are read aloud by the Emcee. Each honoree receives an Outstanding Worker Award, corsage or boutonnière. Operation A.B.L.E. also sends a picture and an announcement to each award recipient's community newspaper.

FY 2009 Accomplishments 

• Celebrated our 27^th year of providing employment and training services to mature workers 45 and older.

• Graduated 85 participants from our three training programs this year including: Operation EmployABLE, our Office Specialist training program; Operation Service, our customer service training program and our special Operation EmployABLE program for Quincy Housing Authority residents.

•  93 of our participants from our training and employment programs, to date, have found jobs, despite the poor economy.
   
• Provided job search assistance, case management and placement assistance to 512 economically-disadvantaged participants 55 and older in our Department of Labor funded Senior Community Service Employment Program in Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties. We were able to serve an additional 56 mature workers in SCSEP this year due to ARRA funds.
   
• Served over 1,000 mature job seekers through all of our resources including: training and employment programs, job fairs, showcases, information sessions and counseling and referrals.
   
•  More than doubled corporation/foundation funding from the previous year, despite the poor economy.
   
• Increased staff capacity by raising enough funds for a new Director of Development position, as well as hiring a Chief Financial Officer.
   
• Honored George A. Russell, President of State Street Foundation, with ABLE’s highest award, our Starfish Thrower Award, for outstanding community service.
   
•  Enhanced communications to all of our stakeholders by adding our Willing and ABLE News newsletter to our communications repertoire.
   
• Served on eight local workforce investment boards, in addition to the Massachusetts statewide workforce investment board.
   
• Relicensed by the Department of Education to provide education and training programs in the Commonwealth of MA.
   
• Participated as national judge for the seventh time for the AARP BEST awards for the Best Companies for Workers 50 and Older.
   
• Served, since 2002, as a Job Doc for the Sunday Boston Globe and the Boston.com Job Doc Blog.