ThirdQuarter News Stories

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Endorses ThirdQuarter

The ThirdQuarter project has been endorsed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce as an "innovative" tool that helps older Canadians remain in the workforce.


The chamber released its Incenting Seniors to Continue Working discussion paper in December and cited the need to find ways to keep seniors working.

"The Canadian chamber believes that a new business culture aimed at retaining, rather than replacing, senior workers is the correct approach to pursue," the paper stated.

"Employers must develop long-term talent management strategies dedicated to retaining senior workers and foster a work environment where employees are encouraged to consider working in their 60s."

It goes on to point out that ThirdQuarter can answer that call for action.

"Innovative tools, including online guides and websites dedicated to the hiring of seniors (such as ThirdQuarter.ca, a pilot project developed with government support that matches skills and experience of Canadians over 50 years of age with job opportunities), are important conduits for future success in increasing employment of older workers," it said.

Expanding ThirdQuarter was also one of the recommendations in a National Seniors Council report prepared for the federal government and released in October.

"Build on the successes of exemplary programs that serve to help older workers find meaningful employment, and seek means of achieving long-term sustainability of these initiatives," stated the Report on the Labour Force Participation of Seniors and Near Seniors and Intergenerational Relations.

"For example, consideration could be given to expanding the ThirdQuarter pilot program, which provides an online service to help employers and experienced employees who are 50-plus find each other."

ThirdQuarter national project director Bill Smith said endorsements by the organizations reinforce the value of the project.

"We've received feedback from businesses and individuals that the program is a win-win situation," Smith said.

"Firms want experienced employees who have a strong work ethic and can pass their knowledge on to their co-workers, and mature Canadians want to stay working as part of their active lifestyle."

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce paper noted that industrialized countries such as Canada are in the middle of a major demographic shift because of its aging population.

It predicted Canada's population will become the 11th oldest within 20 years, up from its current 27th ranking in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The consequence will be a major impact on the country's labour pool as more people move out of their prime working years into retirement.

"The demographic aging process will be more pronounced between 2010 and 2031, when the baby boom generation reaches age 65.2," the paper stated.

"The baby boomers retiring in large numbers means huge labour market consequences that governments and employers will need to address. The possible loss of many key experienced workers - and the knowledge and skills they embody - will have far-reaching impacts on Canada's economy and Canadian businesses."

In highlighting the important role retaining senior workers plays in dealing with the looming labour shortage, the document outlined six key areas that have to be addressed.

Those areas are pension reform, tax reform, workplace flexibility, tools dedicated to the hiring of seniors, the promotion of continuous learning and training for older workers and creating work environments that first aim to retain older workers rather than replace them.

The Incenting Seniors to Continue Working discussion paper is available online at:
www.chamber.ca/images/uploads/Reports/2011/1112IncentingSeniors_to_ContinueWorking.pdf

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