U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill would like the number of older Americans in the workforce to increase. During a bipartisan Senate panel hearing tasked with doing just that, McCaskill said they have just as much to offer as the younger generation.
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
“More than nine in ten workers over 50 have a computer, tablet or smart phone,” said McCaskill. “So don’t tell me that you can’t teach an older dog new tricks and don’t tell me that older workers cost too much. Many baby boomers are dealing with a much different work landscape than the one they entered decades ago. We are a competitive bunch. So I have trouble with this concept that we can’t adapt to changing technologies to stay relevant in today’s economy.”
McCaskill said more than 1 in 5 Missouri workers is 55 and older.
The AARP says adding a worker over 50 is not that much different to a company’s bottom line than adding younger workers. McCaskill said she agrees with that statement and said older Americans need to continue working.
“Some older workers want to stay employed to feel productive and challenged. I hasten to say that I believe the majority of older Americans are doing so out of necessity.”
McCaskill criticized the Missouri Legislature for not expanding Medicaid and says the federal money could make a big difference for older, hard-working people.
