While some employers have intentionally, and most likely illegally, shed their older workers in an effort to reduce costs, some companies are struggling to find experienced talent and are finding creative ways to find and retain it, according to a recent Washington Post article.

Older workers come with leadership and maturity that cannot simply be taught.  As they reach retirement age, they often want to cut back on work but don't want to quit altogether. Companies that can find ways to retain them or bring them back can benefit from their knowledge and experience.

One agency that has done this sucessfully is the U.S. Agriculture Department, according to the article.  Working with the National Older Worker Career Center, the department is hiring these workers on a temporary or part-time basis, often to complete specific projects. 

As more retirees put off retirement, either due to the economy or their own desire to stay active, these types of retiree re-staffing arrangements are becoming more and more common. We have even seen some recruiting firms focus their efforts solely on finding contract assignments for retirees.  If you have clients struggling to retain experienced talent and/or older candidates needing more flexible work, this is a niche you may want to look into.

Debbie Fledderjohann is the President of Top Echelon Contracting, Inc.