SILVER SPRING, Md., July 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) is a chief recipient of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grant for services in 13 states from July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019. SCSEP is operated under a DOL grant and in cooperation with SSAI, the second largest administrator of the program, which provides on-the-job skills training to individuals 55 or older. For 50 years through its local partnerships, SSAI has helped the larger Senior Community Service Program nationally get more than 1 million first-time or returning 55+ Americans into the workforce.

Industry needs a skilled older workforce due to shifting rates of employment by young and old workers. Those 55 and over are projected to make up 25 percent of the civilian labor force by the year 2024 while the number of younger workers in America is set to decrease within a few years.

As the only federal program targeted to help low-income older workers, SCSEP provides experience and training to those who live at or near the poverty level. Training that leads to permanent employment for many. The program places participants in part-time positions at community-based organizations and the participants earn wages from the program. They can be enrolled in the program for up to four years.

SCSEP is an equal opportunity program that provides a bridge back into the workforce for a population vulnerable to ageism in a changing workforce with increased emphasis on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“The need for those over 55 to work is a matter of survival,” said Gary A. Officer, SSAI President and CEO. “The reality for this population is that over 60 percent of workers over 55 do not have or are ineligible for a pension. They also suffer long-term unemployment, considered over 27 weeks, at a higher rate than young workers. The DOL grant in support of SCSEP is critical to getting these workers trained and working. It helps resolve a significant hurdle to financial self-sufficiency.”

In receiving this grant, SSAI celebrates its 50 years of workforce development to reengage older workers into financially viable positions. According to Officer, “Overall our organization has trained nearly half a million older Americans for their next career in life and now SCSEP is a cornerstone of our work.”

For more information about SSAI visit www.seniorserviceamerica.org.

Media Contact:
SSAI.Press@ssa-i.org

About Senior Service America, Inc. 
Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI) is committed to making it possible for low-income and other disadvantaged older adults to participate fully in determining their own future and the future of their communities. SSAI provides employment opportunities to low-income and other older adults in 34 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.   For 50 years, SSAI has operated the Senior Community Service Employment Program and currently partners with a diverse network of local organizations in 13 states. For more information, please visit www.seniorserviceamerica.org.