Web site, two reports highlight older workers.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has launched a new Web site to serve as a resource for employers seeking to attract and retain older workers, who comprise a growing share of the workforce in the United States and many other nations.

The Web site, the "Employer Resource Center" (www.aarp.org/money/ employerresourcecenter), contains stones from employers describing the benefits--especially dependability and experience--of hiring older workers and a checklist to help employers audit their company's policies and procedures to assess their ability to attract and retain older workers. Visitors to the site can download two new AARP reports, one honoring the 35 best employers for workers over the age of 50, the other highlighting the best practices for companies to adopt if they wish to ensure they are receptive to older workers.

Like its counterparts in Germany, Japan, and other industrialized nations, the U.S. workforce is aging rapidly In 2002, 14 percent of the U.S. workforce was aged 55 or older; by 2012, 19 percent of workers will be at least 55, an increase of more than 10 million workers in that age group. The number of older workers could be even higher if labor shortages materialize, employers implement strategies to attract and retain older workers, and/or many of the baby boomers who say they expect to work in retirement actually do so.