WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Council on Aging (NCOA) today launched JobSource, a new online portal to help older adults assess their work skills, identify job training opportunities, and find employment.
Last month, 1.8 million adults aged 55+ were actively seeking employment, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half of older workers looking for jobs have been without employment for over a year.
“For many older Americans, employment is necessary to remain financially secure, healthy, and independent,” said Nora Dowd Eisenhower, senior vice president of economic security at NCOA. “But as industries and workplaces evolve, it is vital that older adults acquire the skills that can keep them competitive.”
JobSource (www.benefitscheckup.org/jobsource) includes a quick job match system that enables users to assess their work interested and transferable skills. Users can also register on the site to earn job skills certifications and enroll in over 30 free online courses.
The JobSource site is one product of a partnership between NCOA and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Additionally, NCOA and the Bank are working with local agencies in New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, and Virginia to assist low-income older adults with accessing holistic services to maximize their economic security.
JobSource is one of a suite of online tools from NCOA that help older adults to improve their economic security. NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp® (www.benefitscheckup.org) is free online screening service that contains information on thousands of programs available to assist older adults in paying for health care, prescriptions, food, and other necessities. Another tool, Home Equity Advisor (www.homeequityadvisor.org), helps older homeowners to assess when and how they may want to use their home equity to age in place.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for millions of older adults—especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. For more information, please visit: www.ncoa.org | www.facebook.com/NCOAging | www.twitter.com/NCOAging
About Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, last year Bank of America embarked on a new, 10-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2009, making the bank one of the largest corporate cash donors in the United States. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Reaffirming a commitment to develop and sustain a culture of service, the bank announced the “Million Hour Challenge,” a pledge by the company’s associates around the world to donate 1 million volunteer hours by the end of 2010. In 2009, bank associate volunteers contributed more than 800,000 hours to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
