Employment
Job training
Despite the projected increase in demand for job training, employment services, and educational instruction, training and services designed specifically for older adults are limited. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) repealed the Job Training Partnership ACT (JTPA) programs, including the JTPA Section 204(d) set-aside program for older workers. WIA instead gives each state the discretion to design and implement workforce development strategies that meet their specific labor market needs. WIA requires each state to establish one-stop service delivery systems for access to all workforce programs and services. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee is concerned that the one-stop centers funded under WIA may not adequately meet the training and educational needs of older workers.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a required partner in the one-stop system, is the only remaining federally funded employment and training program designed specifically for people 55 and older. SCSEP, funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act (OAA), subsidizes part-time community service jobs for low-income people 55 and older who have poor employment prospects. SCSEP's current funding level is not sufficient to meet existing demand. In Texas , SCSEP services are provided by national organizations that have established programs in Texas (e.g., Experience Works) and by the Senior Texans Employment Program (STEP) at the Texas Workforce Commission.
Public school districts, public junior colleges, public universities, public nonprofit agencies, and community-based organizations receive funds through the Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) program to provide adult basic and secondary education programs at no cost to people 18 and older. Federal statute prevents adult education providers from using AEFL funds to develop classes specifically for older adults. Providers may, however, adapt their classes to ensure that instructors use teaching strategies and curricula suited to older adults. Visit the Education section of Aging Texas Well for more information.
Updated: November 2, 2007
