Alliance to promote strategies for hiring and engaging older workers.

More than 20 industry associations and membership organizations have joined forces to develop and publicize strategies for hiring and retaining older employees, who will comprise one in three U.S. workers by the year 2010 and thus will be crucial to helping employers compete successfully in the years ahead.

A report commissioned recently by AARP (the American Association of Retired Persons) revealed that competition for talent among U.S. companies is likely to increase greatly as the "baby boom" generation begins to reach traditional retirement age. Retaining experienced workers will need to become a core business strategy for employers, the report argues, as will ensuring that these workers acquire the skills demanded by the changing workplace.

In response to the report's findings, AARP joined with the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the American Hospital Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and several other industry and membership groups to form the Alliance for an Experienced Workforce. The Alliance has launched a Website, www.experiencedworkforce.org, on which it is posting news and resources pertaining to workforce trends, recruitment and retention strategies, and other issues of interest to employers and older workers. The Alliance Website also features a prominent link to AARP's Employer Resource Center, a Website that lists the best practices for hiring older workers and making the most of their skills and experience.