Boomers at Work: How to Retain the Biggest Labor Pool in Maine

Among the problems facing Maine's aging labor force is a lack of support for re-training Baby Boomers who wish to stay employed, reports WGME-TV 13 . According to the CBS affiliate, one program in Portland — dubbed The Boomer Institute job board — is seeking to connect older job seekers with compatible employers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men and women 65 and older face the highest projected workforce participation rate increases — 74 percent — through 2022. "'Retain older workers? Aren't they leaving? Aren't they supposed to leave?' But in fact, we need them. We need them to get the job done," remarked The Boomer Institute founder Barbara Babkirk said. Through such programs as Live + Work Maine, there has been a lot of statewide attention to retain graduating students and attract new workers. "I'm not hearing a lot of strategy to retain older workers," Babkirk observed. "And yet, that group is growing at 74 percent, whereas 35-40 year-olds are growing at about 9 percent. And 4 out of 5 people approaching retirement plan to continue working after they retire from a primary career." The Boomer Institute job board addresses this phenomenon.