On Thursday, January 22nd, MAX held our first MAX Academy of the year, in partnership with WorkSource Georgia, to focus on how best to support older workers and leverage workers of all ages for team success. Held at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, workforce partners gathered to consider how for the first time in our history, we have a workforce where individuals in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s may find themselves working alongside each other.
The day began with a group exercise that enabled attendees to quickly have a conversation about generational differences around fun topics. As we discovered during our time together, we had four generations represented among those who joined us for this Academy – baby boomers, gen z, millennials, and gen x. That is, the workforce developers in the room discovered they themselves represent a diverse age range.
Special thanks to Dr. Ann Carpenter, chief research and innovation officer with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) for leading a session and discussion on understanding how the population is aging for metro Atlanta and the nation and the advantages of older adults in the workforce, Carpenter pointed out the following key data points to consider when it comes to our region’s older workforce.
- The share of Atlanta’s workforce that is 55+ is increasing though lower than many of our peer metros.
- Older workers have a lower unemployment rate.
- Older adults have relatively low turnover.
- Labor force participation for older adults has been declining.
- Economic mobility correlates with life expectancy.
The day proceeded with a networking lunch that provided attendees a chance to continue the conversation about generational differences and what the data is telling us about older workers in our region.
Following lunch, MAX Provider Council chair Jeannie Ross, director of workforce development for the City of Refuge, led a discussion with Becky Kurtz, director of ARC’s Area Agency on Aging, and Roderick Wyatt, deputy commissioner with the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, on how providers are supporting the older workforce, what they see as key needs that older workers have, and helpful resources that exist for older workers. This led to a lively discussion with workforce partners in the room who shared their experiences on supporting older workers.
Capping the day off was a session led by author and keynote speaker Theo Gilbert-Jamison, chief executive officer of Performance Solutions by Design, Inc. on valuing our differences, understanding our similiarities, and leveraging the gifts that each generation brings to our multigenerational workforce. Gilbert-Jamison drew on her years as a corporate executive with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and as an executive coach to hit home how most people, at varying ages and levels of leadership, experience the same leadership challenges when it comes to accountability, communication, team development, and so on. Having open discussions about our challenges can help foster alignment within our multigenerational workforce, she noted.
Special thanks to Diane Allen, regional operations manager with WorkSource Georgia, for her partnership in planning and executing this MAX Academy.
Said one attendee: “I especially enjoyed hearing from different generations and having open conversations about working together more effectively; those insights were super valuable.”
This MAX Academy was approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) for approval as training counting toward continuing education hours (CEUs) for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs). Special thanks to Goodwill of North Georgia for serving as the sponsor with the CRCC for the MAX Academy.
ABOUT THE MAX ACADEMY
Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic resilience in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.
The MAX Academy offers professional development and capacity building training workshops to help workforce development professionals develop new skills, learn best practices, and engage in peer-to-peer learning.
