Older adults in search of work can discuss job opportunities with various industry representatives Monday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the “50+ Employment Expo” in the Sheraton Tysons Hotel.
“This is an opportunity to meet recruiters who are looking for mature workers and value what they bring to the workforce,” says Grace Lynch, communications and community outreach manager for the division of Adult and Aging Services for Fairfax County.
The expo also offers seminars about changing careers, and how to complete online job searches and applications. Participants can get constructive feedback on their resumes. They can meet with recruiters for government and nonprofit agencies, healthcare and retail industries, in addition to technology sectors.
Keynote speaker is ABC7/WJLA-TV chief meteorologist Doug Hill, who gives Washington-area residents more than 35 years of expertise in weather forecasting.
Hill knows a thing or two about changing careers before answering his call to broadcasting. He graduated from Towson State University, served his country four years in the U.S. Air Force at Andrews AFB and then his community as a police officer in Prince George’s County.
Fairfax County officials predict a dramatic increase in population in coming years, according to a 2013 report that states 33 percent of county residents will be 50 years and older by the year 2040.
County government spokesman Brian Worthy points out the enterprising nature of older residents and cites a recent study of the Missouri-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which tracks entrepreneurship across the country.
Older adults — not millennials — have created the largest increase in business start-up activity nationwide with 25.8 percent of entrepreneurs between the ages of 55 and 64. According to its 2015 Kauffman Index, this age group only represented 14.8 percent of startups in 1996.
Metropolitan Washington residents in this age bracket form the second highest rate of new business ownership with 8.36 percent in 2014, Worthy noted.
The event is sponsored by the Jewish Council for the Aging, Fairfax County and community partners.
Admission and parking are free to this job fair at 8661 Leesburg Pike in Vienna. No advance registration is required. Call the JCA senior helpline at (703) 425-0999 or visit www.accessjca.org/50plusjobexpos.