Skip to main content

Talent Management and Older Workers: Later Life Career Development

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ageing, Organisations and Management

Abstract

The Canadian workforce is ageing and there is greater labor force participation among older adults. These unprecedented shifts require business and industry to examine the talent management of older workers while considering their career development. In fact, a top strategic issue facing organizations is the talent management of the ageing workforce such as the recruitment, retention, training and development, and career progression of older workers. This chapter examines the career development of older workers and talent management policy in organizations through a critical lens in order to shift the discourse surrounding work and ageing. This approach can support the labor force participation of older workers and their career development needs while also strengthening talent management within organizations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ainsworth, S. (2002). The ‘feminine advantage’: A discursive analysis of the invisibility of older women workers, Gender. Work and Organization, 9(5), 579–601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al Ariss, A., Cascio, W. F., & Paauwe, J. (2014). Talent management: Current theories and future research directions. Journal of World Business, 49, 173–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, T. D., & Eby, L. T. (2007). The Blackwell handbook of mentoring: A multiple perspectives approach. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, T. D., Finkelstein, L. M., & Poteet, M. L. (2009). Designing workplace mentoring programs: An evidence-based approach. Oxford: Blackwell-Wiley Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Alon-Shenker, P. (2016). Legal barriers to age discrimination in hiring complaints. Dalhousie Law Journal, 39(1), 289–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • AMCTO. (2013). Looming crisis? Staff attraction and retention in small rural municipalities. Retrieved from Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasures of Ontario (AMCTO): http://www.amcto.com

  • Appannah, A., & Biggs, S. (2015). Age-friendly organisations: The role of organisational culture and the participation of older workers. Journal of Social Work Practice, 29(17), 37–51. doi:10.1080/02650533.2014.993943.

  • Armstrong-Stassen, M., & Ursel, N. D. (2009). Perceived organizational support, career satisfaction, and the retention of older workers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 82, 201–220. doi:10.1348/096317908X288838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baruch, Y. (2006). Career development in organizations and beyond: Balancing traditional and contemporary viewpoints. Human Resource Management Review, 16, 125–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, V. and Williams, G. (2016). Managing older workers: A report for Acas. isbn:978-1-908370-67-9. http://www.acas.org.uk/researchpapers.

  • Bélanger, A., Carrière, Y., & Sabourin, P. (2016). Understanding employment participation of older workers: The Canadian perspective. Canadian Public Policy, 94–109. doi:10.3138/cpp.2015-042.

  • Berger, E. (2009). Managing age discrimination: An examination of the techniques used when seeking employment. The Gerontologist, 47(3), 317–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, A. (2012). The job search of the older unemployed. Perspectives on Labour and Income, 24(3), 1–15. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-001-XIE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bettache, M. (2013). Maintien en emploi et mobilisation des travailleurs séniors dans le secteur public: Tout un défi. Revue internationale sur le travail et la société, 11(1). Retrieved from http://www.uqtr.ca/revue_travail/.

  • Billet, S., Dymock, D., Johnson, G., & Martin, G. (2011). Last resort employees: Older workers’ perceptions of workplace discrimination. Human Resource Development International, 14(4), 375–389. doi:10.1080/13678868.2011.601571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooke, L., & Taylor, P. (2005). Older workers and employment: Managing age relations. Ageing & Society, 25, 415–429. doi:10.1017/S0144686X05003466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooke, E., Taylor, P., Mcloughlin, C., & Di Biase, T. (2013). Managing the working body: Active ageing and limits to the ‘flexible’ firm. Ageing & Society, 33, 11295–11314. doi:10.1017/S0144686X12000426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buyens, D., Van Dijk, H., Dewilde, T., & De Vos, A. (2009). The aging workforce: Perceptions of career ending. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 24(2), 102–117. doi:10.1108/02683940910928838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Council for Career Development. (n.d.). The profession: What is career development? http://cccda.org/cccda/index.php/the-career-development-profession/what-is-career-development.

  • Carpenter, M., Bauer, T. & Erdogan, B. (2014). Principles of management and organizational behaviour, (version 1.1). Irvington: Flatworld Knowledge. eISBN: 978-1-4533-2780-7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrière, Y., & Galarneau, D. (2011). Delayed retirement: A new trend? Perspectives on Labour and Income, 23(3), 1–16. Statistics Canada Catalogue no 75-001-X.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamahian, A. and Tremblay, D.G. (2011). Ces retraités qui deviennent « experts » : Stratégie de recrutement et place de la formation dans la fonction publique. Télescope, 17(3). Retrieved from http://www.telescope.enap.ca/Telescope/docs/Index/Vol_17_no_3/Telv17n3_formation_VF.pdf.

  • Christensen Hughes, J., & Rog, E. (2008). Talent management. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 20(7), 743–757. doi:10.1108/09596110810899086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciutiene, R., & Railaite, R. (2015). Age management as a means of reducing the challenges of workforce aging. Inzinerine Ekonomika-Engineering Economics, 26(4), 391–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claes, R., de Van, V., & Bart. (2008). Determinants of older and younger workers’ job satisfaction and organisational commitment in the contrasting labour markets of Belgium and Sweden. Ageing & Society, 28, 1093–1112. doi:10.1017/S0144686X08007423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cliquot, N. (2015). Stratégies locales pour les marchés du travail vieillissant: L’emploi des séniors dans la Zone Territoriale Emploi Formation de Bresse, Dombes, Val de Saône, France. OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Working Papers, 2015/04, Éditions OCDE, Paris. doi:10.1787/5jm5hl90xwxv-fr.

  • Connell, C. (2011). Career development: An examination of challenges for the African-American male. InSight: Riviere Academic Journal, 7(2), 1–5. https://www.rivier.edu/journal/ROAJ-Fall-2011/J568-Connell-Career-Development.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S. L. (2011). An exploration of learning through volunteering during retirement. International Journal of Volunteer Administration, 28, 9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S. L. (2015). Redirection: An extension of career during retirement. The Gerontologist, 55(3), 360–375. doi:10.1093/geront/gnt105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, S.L. (2016, January). Career development and nonretirement: HR has a role to play in helping mature workers weigh their career options, HR Professional Magazine, pp. 31–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, C. B., & Beier, M. E. (2014). Too old to train or reprimand: The role of intergroup attribution bias in evaluating older workers. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29(1), 61–70. doi:10.1007/s10869-013-9297-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowne, K. A., Cochran, J., & Carpenter, C. E. (2014). Older-worker-friendly policies and affective organizational commitment. Online Management Journal, 11, 62–73. doi:10.1080/15416518.2014.925389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J., & Hillier, E. (2012). Informal learning in the workplace: Key activities and processes. Education and Training, 55(1), 37–51. doi:10.1108/00400911311294960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Czaja, S. J., & Sharit, J. (2009). The aging of the population: Opportunities and challenges for human factors engineering. The Bridge: Linking Engineering and Society, 39(1), 34–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damaske, S., & Frech, A. (2016). Women’s work pathways across the life course. Demography, 53, 363–391. doi:10.1007/s13524-016-0464-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eby, L. T., & Lockwood, A. (2005). Proteges and mentors’ reactions to participating in formal mentoring programs: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67, 441–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eyster, L., Johnson, R. W., & Toder, E. (2008). Current strategies to employ and retain older workers. Final report for the U.S. Department of Labor. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabisiak, J., & Projurat, S. (2012). Age management as a tool for the demographic decline in the 21st century: An overview of its characteristics. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 8(4), 83–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, G. (2005). Am I still needed? Guidance and learning for older adults. Retrieved from www.derby.ac.uk/.

  • Hedge, J. W. (2008). Strategic human resource management and the older worker. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 23(1/2), 109–123. doi:10.1080/15555240802189513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector. (2010). Boomer bridging: Tapping into the talents of late career employees. Retrieved from http://www.hrcouncil.ca/newsroom/documents/HRC_Boomer_Bridging_0510.pdf.

  • Hursh, N., Lui, J., & Pransky, G. (2006). Maintaining and enhancing older worker productivity. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 25, 45–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilmarinen, J. (2012). Promoting active ageing in the workplace, European agency for safety and health at work. https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/publications/articles/promoting-active-ageing-in-the-workplace/view.

  • Kanfer, R., Beier, M. E., & Ackerman, P. L. (2013). Goals and motivation related to work in later adulthood: An organizing framework. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 22(3), 253–264. doi:10.1080/1359432X.2012.734298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, T. R. (2013). Retirement in Canada. Don Mills, Canada: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, T. R., & Cook, S. L. (2016). Identifying and understanding innovations in labour market adjustment programs for older workers, final report for the Ontario human capital innovation research fund. Toronto: Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kooij, D. T. A. M., Guest, D. E., Clinton, M., Knight, T., Jansen, P. G. W., & Dikkers, J. S. E. (2013). How the impact of HR practices on employee well-being and performance changes with age. Human Resource Management Journal, 23(1), 18–35. doi:10.1111/1748-8583.12000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kooij, D. T. A. M., Jansen, P. G. W., Dikkers, J. S. E. a., & de Lang, A. H. (2014). Managing aging workers: A mixed methods study on bundles of HR practices for aging workers. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(15), 2192–2212. doi:10.1080/09585192.2013.872169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lain, D. (2016). Reconstructing retirement: Work and welfare in the UK and USA. Bristol, UK: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laliberte Rudman, D., & Molke, D. (2009). Forever productive: The discursive shaping of later life workers in contemporary Canadian newspapers. Work, 32, 277–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazazzara, A., Karpinska, K., & Henkens, K. (2013). What factors influence training opportunities for older workers? Three factorial surveys exploring the attitudes of HR professionals. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(11), 2154–2172. doi:10.1080/09585192.2012.725077.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loretto, W., & White, P. (2006). Population ageing and older workers: Employers perceptions, attitudes and policies. Population, Space and Place, 12, 341–352. doi:10.1002/psp.421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, K. and Ferraro, V. (2007). Participation of older workers. Perspectives on Labour and Income, 8(8), 75-001-XWE. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/2007108/article/4096850-eng.htm.

  • McDonald, L. (1997). The link between social research and social policy options: Reverse retirement as a case in point. Canadian Journal on Aging/Public Policy, 23, 90–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, L. (2007). Gendered retirement: The welfare of women and the “new” retirement. In L. Stone (Ed.), New frontier of research on retirement (pp. 137–164). Ottawa: Statistics Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaels, E., Handford-Jones, H., & Axelrod, B. (2001). The war for talent. Harvard Business Review Press. isbn:978-1578514595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minichiello, V., Browne, J., & Kendig, H. (2000). Perceptions and consequences of ageism: Views of older people. Ageing & Society, 20, 253–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morissette, R., Lu, Y. and Qiu, T. (2013). Worker reallocation in Canada, analytical studies branch research paper series (Catalogue No. 11F0019M – 348). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2013348-eng.pdf.

  • Murray, M. (2001). Beyond the myths and magic of mentoring: How to facilitate an effective mentoring process. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Career Development Association. (2011). Policy statement. 1–8. http://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/asset_manager/get_file/39958.

  • National Seniors Council. (2013). Older Workers at Risk of withdrawing from the labour force or becoming unemployed: Employers’ views on how to retain and attract older workers. Ottawa: Government of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, S., & Spiker, B. K. (2005). Establishing the positive contributory value of older workers: A positive psychology perspective. Organizational Dynamics, 34(2), 153–167. doi:10.1016/j.orgdyn.2005.03.002.

  • Pitt-Catsouphes, M., & Matz-Costa, C. (2009). Engaging the 21st century multi-generational workforce: Findings from the age & generations study. Sloan center on aging and work at Boston. Chestnut Hill, MA: College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posthuma, R. A., & Campion, M. A. (2009). Age stereotypes in the workplace: Common stereotypes, moderators, and future research directions. Journal of Management, 35(1), 158–188. doi:10.1177/0149206308318617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PwC. (2016). Golden age index. Retrieved from http://www.pwc.co.uk/economic-services/assets/pwc-golden-age-index-final.pdf.

  • Radford, K., Shacklock, K., & Meissner, E. (2015). What makes me stay? An investigation into factors influencing older workers’ intentions to stay. Labour and Industry, 25(4), 306–320. doi:10.1080/10301763.2015.1083368.

  • Ropes, D.C. (2011). Still making waves: Intergenerational learning and the ageing knowledge worker. Proceedings of the 5th international conference on organisational learning and knowledge capabilities. Hull, April 12–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saad-Filho, A., & Johnson, D. (2005). Neoliberalism: A critical reader. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Chicago Press. ISBN: 9780745322995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaefers, K. (2012). Working for good: The encore career movement. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 28(2). Retrieved from http://www.careernetwork.org/.

  • Schalk, R. (2010). Matching individual and organizational needs to enable longer working lives. In Work and ageing: Emerging theories and empirical perspectives. CEDEFOP European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, F., Zinni, D., & Armstrong-Stassen, M. (2012). Intention to unretired: HR and the boomerang effect. Career Development International, 17(2), 149–167. doi:10.1108/13620431211225331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sicker, M. (2011). The political economy of work in the 21st century: Implications for an aging American workforce. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M. (2008). Meeting the challenges of an aging workforce. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 51(4), 269–280. doi:10.1002/ajim.20569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R., Dymock, D., & Billett, S. (2013). Learning and training for sustained employability across working lives. International Journal of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, 5(2), 85–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stam, C.D. (2009). Knowledge and the ageing employee: A research agenda. European conference on intellectual capital. Paper presented at the 1st European Conference on Intellectual Capital. Haarlem, the Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stamov Roßnagel, C., & Hertel, G. (2010). Older workers motivation: Against the myth of general decline. Management Decision, 48(6), 894–906. doi:10.1108/00251741011053451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Canada. (2011). Portrait of Canada’s labour force national household survey, 2011. Catalogue no. 99-012-X2011002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Canada. (2013). Table 282-0048 Labour force survey estimates (LFS), duration of unemployment by sex and age group, annual (persons unless otherwise noted). CANSIM (database).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thijssen, J. and Rocco, T. (2010). Development of older workers: Revisiting policies. In Work and ageing: Emerging theories and empirical perspectives. CEDEFOP European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tishman, F., Van Looy, S. and Bruyère, S. M. (2012). Employer strategies for responding to an aging workforce. Retrieved from http://www.dol.gov/odep/pdf/ntar_employer_strategies_report.pdf

  • Tokuda, Y., & Hinohara, S. (2008). Geriatric nation and redefining the elderly in Japan. International Journal of Gerontology, 2(4), 154–157. doi:10.1016/S1873-9598(09)70003-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, L.B. (2003). Bridge employment and older workers: An exploratory study. Retrieved from https://theses.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03262003-083517/unrestricted/ULRICHETD.pdf.

  • van Dalen, H. P., Henkens, K., & Wang, M. (2015). Recharging or retiring older workers? Uncovering the age-based strategies of European employers. Gerontologist, 55(5), 814–824. doi:10.1093/geront/gnu048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H., Grant, D., Meadows, M., & Cook, I. (2007). Women’s experiences and perceptions of age discrimination in employment: Implications for research and policy. Social Policy & Society, 6(1), 37–48. doi:10.1017/S1474746406003320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., & Shultz, K. S. (2010). Employee retirement: A review and recommendations for future investigation. Journal of Management, 36(1), 172–206. doi:10.1177/0149206309347957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams van Rooij, S. (2012). Training older workers: Lessons learned, unlearned, and relearned from the field of instructional design. Human Resource Management, 51, 281–298. doi:10.1002/hrm.21466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cook, S.L., Rougette, V. (2017). Talent Management and Older Workers: Later Life Career Development. In: Aaltio, I., Mills, A., Mills, J. (eds) Ageing, Organisations and Management. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58813-1_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics