Older job seekers work to overcome age barrier

Journalist: Christopher S. Rugaber     

Date: July 6, 2009 

Summary: This article describes the experiences of older unemployed older workers, their efforts to obtain employment and age discrimination rates reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Relevance: Unemployed older workers may see social workers for services.

Questions:
1) Why might unemployed older workers find it hard to obtain employment?
2) Describe some of the resume-tinkering techniques used by older workers? What are your thoughts about resume-tinkering?  What other strategies are unemployed older workers using to seek employment?
3) Compare and contrast the length of time for unemployed workers 55 and older with those under 55. 
4) Compare and contrast the complaints of age bias reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission presently and going back 16 years.
5) In what ways is the current economic recession different for older workers than the 1981-1982 recession?

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