As more older Americans are re-entering the workforce, Omaha career center helps

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A growing number of older Americans are re-entering the workforce instead of retiring and one Metro career center is working to adapt to the change.

Leaders at Heartland Workforce Solutions said the job market is fluctuating and so are the people who are entering it.

Greg Gruss is one example of this change. The 68-year-old worked in the food service industry for nearly 20 years. After the 2008 Housing Crisis, Gruss left the workforce to be with his family.

Now, he’s gearing up to go back.

“They’re just entry-level jobs, training jobs, jobs that almost anybody can get,” Gruss said. “It’s a starting point and I’m happy with that.”

Many other Americans in his age bracket are also finding themselves in this spot. Research from the Federal Reserve of St. Louis shows these trends kickstarted in 2020: there were 2.4 million excess retirements.

David Vaughn, Heartland Workforce Solutions’ One Stop Supervisor, said many of those people are walking back through the job center’s doors.

“Retirement benefits, retirement income doesn’t necessarily cut it,” Vaughn said. “Especially over the last year, year and a half.”

Tangible benefits aren’t the only reason why Vaughn said he’s seeing people re-enter the workforce. For many, their reasoning is social.

“There’s just not the connectedness that people experience when they’re coming to work everyday,” Vaughn said. “You don’t have that when you’re at home trying to find something to do.”

To meet the growing need for services dedicated to this age group, Heartland Workforce Solutions is creating new resources. For the first time, the center will be hosting a job fair for seniors age 55 and older.

“It’s an opportunity to meet with employers and to take the opportunity for growth and for new beginnings for individuals who are in that age group,” Vaughn said.

One person who probably won’t be there: Greg.

When 6 News spoke with him, he said he was in the final stages of signing a job offer. He said even with the stigma surrounding what he’s doing, he’s not ashamed of un-retiring.

“I’ll be happy just to get to work,” Gruss said. “I’ll be happy just to have a paycheck. I’ll be happy to do something that I can do.”

Dozens of employers will be at the 55+ job fair. It will be held on Wednesday, Sept 25 at the center’s Ames Avenue office from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

You can pre-register for the event here.

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