America's population is rapidly growing older. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2030, twenty percent of the population, or approximately 70 million Americans will be at least 65 years of age.

When it comes time to retire, many seniors will make a startling discovery–they’ve seriously underestimated how much money they’ll need to keep themselves going during this time in their lives. After receiving their monthly pensions and Social Security benefits, some will find it extremely difficult to make ends meet – providing a very short retirement.

The reasons seniors want to continue working past the traditional age of retirement...

Financial – The main reason they keep working is to supplement their income, or shorten the time for relying on retirement savings.

Enjoyment – Some actually enjoy working. It provides a sense of satisfaction in their daily lives.

Friendship – Many seniors enjoy the relationships they’ve developed while being employed. Working provides an automatic network of friends and potential friends.

Worry – They have not developed any interests outside of work and it provides a sense of purpose.

Deena Katz, an associate professor of personal financial planning at Texas Tech University says the unstable financial climate has made at least one thing fairly certain: Baby Boomers will keep working beyond retirement, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since “if all the Boomers retired, we wouldn’t have enough workers in place to replace us anyway,” she pointed out.

If you are healthy, continuing to work as long as you're able to will create more earned income. However, if you’ve already retired and found yourself needing to work but don’t have the skills, there’s plenty of free help out there.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

The federal appointment of the Senior Community Service Employment Program's (SCSEP) purpose is to promote economic self-sufficiency for older individuals wishing to achieve the American Dream.

The program is committed to providing high-quality job training and employment assistance to participants through an extensive network of providers.

AARP Foundation - SCSEP

The American Association for Retired Persons Foundation - SCSEP helps qualified senior job seekers improve their employment skills and obtain training. The goal of the program is for participants to gain the valuable skills they'll need to find and sustain employment in today's workforce.

AARP Foundation SCSEP is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor with support from AARP and the AARP Foundation, and provides comprehensive training and support that helps individuals to:

• Learn new skills;
• Enhance their skills;
• Succeed in today's job market;
• Gain confidence in their abilities.

To learn if you qualify and how you can participate in the program, contact the closest AARP Foundation WorkSearch office near you.

National Council on Aging - SCSEP

National Council on Aging has sponsored the SCSEP since the late 1960s. It's the nation's oldest program providing training and employment opportunities to low-income seniors.

Participants recieve general and specialized training in various areas such as:

• Child care providers;
• Customer service representatives;
• Teachers' aids;
• Computer technology;
• Light home-builder trades;
  
• Health care.

Experience Works - SCSEP

The mission of the Experience Works - SCSEP is to provide participants with the training, experience, supportive services and information they need to improve their lives, gain self-sufficiency, realize their goals.

To find out what programs are availble through Experience Works or to learn if you may qualify click here.

National Older Worker Career Center

The National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC), a nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia, provides national leadership to expand employment and to help shape public and private policy and practice for America's fast-growing population of workers age 40 and over.

Founded in 1997, NOWCC today provides employment to over 600 older workers located at the Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, and other government agencies.

WorkForce50

Workforce50 (formerly Senior Job Bank), is a valuable resource providing full service job board services for older workers. Their employment and education resources minister to mature workers searching for jobs, in transition or approaching retirement.