EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS - ENGINEERING DESIGN AND RESEARCH ISSUES

A challenge facing the engineering community is to find ways to integr ate older people into the labor force. Despite laws regarding age disc rimination and compulsory retirement, older people's participation in the labor force is declining. Unless strategies are developed to keep older people in the workforce, the issues of economic dependency and i ntergenerational equity are likely to become formidable in the near fu ture. There are a number of areas where engineering applications can e nhance older adults' employment opportunities. These include training, workplace and equipment design, and job design. An overview of curren t knowledge regarding aging and work is provided. Gaps in the knowledg e base are identified as areas for research. Examples of how engineeri ng can contribute to the integration of older people into work setting s are presented.