The current demand for labor is at the highest point it has been in many years. To meet this demand, businesses are offering a variety of hiring incentives to attract workers and are looking at hiring older workers. Hiring older workers can bring intergenerational diversity to business along with a diverse range of views, skills and approaches that can be helpful in solving problems and brainstorming and may increase productivity. As an added bonus, older workers statistically have less turnover than their younger counterparts. Employee retention can be critical, especially for small businesses that have limited resources for recruiting and hiring new employees. Sept. 22-27, is National Employ Older Workers Week (NEOWW). The Theme this year is “Embracing Experience, Empowering Futures.” The Older Kansans Employment Program (OKEP) can help with this process. OKEP offers job opportunities each week on Wednesdays, 10 – 11 a.m. at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Street, Great Bend.

This is an excellent way to review open job opportunities for those 55 and older and discuss your abilities and see in detail what this program has to offer. The OKEP County Coordinator can assist with Online Applications, Resume Development, Pre-Interview Assistance and Basic Computer Training. If you are unable to attend an OKEP Job Meeting at the Great Bend Senior Center, call 620-282-6188 or 620-793-6633 and make an appointment to review opportunities at a different time. OKEP is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce and is a department of the SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, 236 San Jose Dr., Dodge City.