Elders and tomorrow’s workforce
The changing age demographic in Minnesota has compelled Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to take action in support of area workforce and business interests—toward the goal of strengthening the community.
People wanting to work beyond the traditional retirement age are often finding themselves in challenging circumstances, with bias sometimes favoring younger workers. The foundation is working to help create communities where people in their sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth decades of life are equally regarded as producers of information, services or commodities.
Exploring the issues
In the area of workforce development, the foundation is leading with a premise that success may be attained when:
- an increasingly diverse workforce has the skills needed to contribute
- more skilled workers are working
- the region achieves sustainable economic growth
Given the foundation’s interest in the economic prosperity of the Minnesota region in which it works, the issue of elders and the workforce has made its way to the forefront. While demographic data provides compelling rationale to pursue an approach that converges the two, other indications from across the communities also exist.
Currently, numerous groups such as the State of Minnesota, Area Agency on Aging and Minnesota Technology are convening information sessions around the impact of the aging population. Unfortunately, while many are aware and interested in addressing the issue, no clear or coherent action plan existed. Until now.
Emerging opportunities
Through Community Experience Partnership, the foundation is advancing work in areas of elders and workforce. A key to this effort is the foundation’s reputation as a neutral convener in the region. Its Town Meeting Initiative has effectively introduced asset-based planning for communities.
The approach takes advantage of largely untapped resources (elders) already present. This undertaking supports current work around the Town Meeting Initiative focused on the issue of active aging.
Central to the initiative is understanding the resources available for a community and recognizing existing gaps. Important components of this approach include:
- establishing a core leadership team—comprised of six to 10 community members connected with and knowledgeable about elders and the workforce
- involving a wide range of community members—using the sector wheel tool to engage a diverse group for the purpose of information gathering
- asset mapping—beginning with a document search and review, as well as conducting focus groups and opinion leader interviews
- action plan development—analyzing information to consider potential gaps and working to achieve consensus around two or three key action areas
Meaningful engagement
The foundation is using the Community Experience Partnership as an integral support platform for increasing awareness and generating public discussion and action concerning elders and workforce issues. In addition, it is being used to connect stakeholders and other organizations serving, supporting and seeking to mobilize older adults, while also creating a regional action plan centering on the needs of elders as it relates to workforce issues.
Through its efforts, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is creating a regional network of assets—human, institutional and associational—prepared to engage around the issue of elders and the workforce. This meaningful action is advancing the goal of strengthening prosperity in Southern Minnesota.
Engaged Elders Advisory Council
In support of its strategy, the foundation formed the Engaged Elders Advisory Council—which is comprised of regional and statewide agencies and employers. Through the work of the council, the foundation has identified priorities for the region by asset mapping and researching around two intrinsic questions:
What would it look like if the region became
- “elder employee” friendly?
- better at tapping elders in workforce-related volunteerism?
Council members are currently interviewing major employers to assist in the preparation of a September 2009 conference. The goal of the convening is to provide resources and meet the overall needs of elders as they engage in meaningful work or volunteerism across the community.
