McDonald’s partnering with AARP to hire senior citizens
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has named the 55-and-older population as the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, projecting that 41 million older Americans will represent 24.8 percent of the civilian workforce by 2024.
An analysis by the National Restaurant Association found the count of restaurant workers 55 and older rose by 70 percent from 2007 to 2018.
This shift is occurring due to two powerful trends:
- a labor shortage amid the tightest U.S. labor market in nearly 50 years,
- and the tendency for longer-living Americans to keep working – even part-time – to supplement insufficient retirement savings.
In addition, the food and beverage labor force is projected to grow by 14 percent between 2016 and 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, also according to the BLS.
From morning shifts to management roles, AARP and AARP Foundation will help connect McDonald’s to a growing, yet underutilized workforce.
The collaboration with AARP and AARP Foundation includes:
- Job Postings Featured on AARP’s Job Board
- Pilot Program to Ensure Jobs are a Match for Candidate and Employer
This process will help McDonald’s and its independent franchisees, who opt into the program, hire a multi-generational workforce for their restaurants allowing older Americans access to the educational and career benefits available to McDonald’s employees as they re-enter the workforce.
The pilot will start in five states — Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina — before rolling out nationwide later this summer.
In addition, McDonald’s provides a signature education and career advising program, Archways to Opportunity. Eligible after 90 days – or the equivalent of a summer job – and 15 hours a week, employees at participating U.S. restaurants have the chance to earn a high school diploma, receive $2,500 in upfront college tuition assistance, access to free education and career advising services and the opportunity to learn English as a second language. To date, McDonald’s has given out over $58 million dollars in tuition assistance and supported 38,500 restaurant workers achieve their educational aspirations.
Always do your due diligence. If you have specific work expectations make sure they are known. Fully understand all offerings by employers, trying to ensure what you think and what is real work out to be the same.