Responding to the Growing Age-Gap in the Workplace

The U.S. workforce continues to expand, and an interesting phenomenon is occurring as a result – the workforce also is getting older.According to Labor Department statistics, approximately half of all employment gains in 2018 were from Americans ages 55 and older. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that, by 2024, 25 percent of the U.S. workforce will be workers over the age of 55, and a third of those workers will be older than 65. Of course, longer life expectancy and years of lower birthrates contribute to these numbers. But, declining rates of retirement savings and employees’ need for continuing healthcare are also major drivers in employees working into their later years.

Does this growing “age gap” in the workplace raise concerns for employers? 

In the restaurant industry,  Older adults have been the fastest-growing cohort of employees, according to the National Restaurant Association. The number of adults age 55 or older working in the industry jumped 70…