Senior Workers Need to Stay in Tune With Technology

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For older workers rejoining the white-collar world, don’t expect to find typewriters and rotary dialed telephones. Technology has taken over, and workers in the 21st century are armed with personal computers and PDAs.

Older workers tend to be less tech-friendly, or so the story goes. In a working environment where technology seems to be changing at the speed of light, the challenge for workers over 50 is not to get lost in a world of gigabytes and Web applications.

The stereotype is that older workers are resistant to change … high-tech products, such as computers, for example, are sort of a modern-day boogeyman. Studies, however, have shown that older workers are willing to learn, but their experience at the workplace and within society is a natural barrier that’s not present for younger workers who have grown up with the technology. In fact, it has been shown that when older workers are given the necessary training and support, they have the ability to keep up with their peers on the tech front.

The simple fact remains, though, that a 16-year-old who hasn’t even entered the workforce, may be more savvy than a 60-year-old who has spent four decades in the working world. A clear example of the gap is shown by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which found that just 31% of people age 65 and over were going online, compared to nearly 100% of 16-18-year olds.

With a tightening supply of employees expected over the next two decades, the job scene will include millions of older workers returning to the workforce out of desire or financially necessity. At the rate technology changes, it’s likely to change rapidly over the next 20 years, possibly making today’s computer a thing of the past.

In order to thrive in Workplace 2.0, older workers must be computer literate, even if it’s just the basics of managing email, moving the mouse or operating the keyboard. Whether it’s a job with a white, blue or grey color, finding any job without possessing simple computer skills will be hard to land. With roughly 78% of working-age American adults using computers at home or work, a senior who re-enters the workforce will be left in the dust if they don’t master some computer competency.

Computers aren’t the only tech tools some seniors may face a fear factor over. Staying connected through BlackBerry’s and cell phones is the norm in many jobs today. Seniors need to maintain a certain level of savvy about devices and computers, simply to stay in tune with the company culture.

Closing the gap on the digital divide is not as hard as some senior workers may think. First stop, the teen-agers. No other age group adapts quicker to technology than teens, who have the market cornered on everything from Web surfing to social networking.

Once on the Internet, older workers can find a treasure trove of information geared specifically for seniors at the AARP website, www.aarp.org. And, there’s always the old school way to learn new technology. Community centers, community colleges, and public libraries offer a number of courses for the beginner.