30 Fast-Growing Careers for Older Workers

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"Experienced, qualified,but too old" is telling the total true. My husband is in the same position: phenomenal work ethic, college degree, business analyst, and physically fit but when the employer finds out he is over fifty, that's it. No one talks about what this does to a man's self-esteem and pride...it's devastating.
Additionally, anyone who believes that Obama has a "PLAN" must be drinking motor oil (oh, I forgot...no one can afford to buy motor oil anymore!) Our household/family does not believe one thing that President Obama says. Look at the statistics about how many people are out of work, how many households were "cut" from Obama's housing help plan, public schools are being ravaged, and I could go on and on.
Fellow Americans, PLEASE wake up!

D&T in California of CA 8:56PM August 22, 2010

I went back to school for a degree and even that did not enable me to change fields. I am almost 60 and am planning on retiring as soon as I am able, I have a wealth of management and several fields that could use the skills I have accrued over the years but age is a real determent. It was easier to find a job 6 years ago but with so many younger applicants out there applying for the same positions the older applicant is just ignored.

susan dicochea of AZ 8:54PM August 22, 2010

Give me a break! Schools all across the country are downsizing. The shrunken tax base, thanks to Wall Street & corporate downsizing, has resulted in the elimination of thousands of teachers at every level. Classroom sizes are increasing, extracurriculars are being cut, specialist positions vaporized! In addition, who in their right mind would even want to work in a school given all the social & political pressures they face day after day. Go for the Wal-Mart greeter position before teaching.

jomama of NH 8:45PM August 22, 2010

I'm not sure where the author got their facts. I retired early, after being downsized out of my job I had held for over 30 years. I have many years experience in my field and was confident there would be another career out there. Sadly I was mistaken! After spending my entire career doing everything 'right'....saving, contributing to 401K, etc., the Wall Street mess took care of everything I had worked for, leaving me with no retirement. I have been on many interviews, and answered many ads for jobs In my field, only to be told the job had already been filled, or the requirements were being reviewed. As soon as a potential employers sees that I am over 50, suddenly there is no interest. There is NO interest in hiring older workers as far as I can see. Let the authors try gaining employment after 50! Whoever is touting that there is employment for older workers is living in Lala Land! Perhaps I would qualify for Mr. Obama's bailout!

KB of OK 8:29PM August 22, 2010

How absurd. I cannot think that 'makesenseofit of PA' is anywhere near retirement age. The predjudice is astounding. Just because we age does not mean we are falling apart physically and/or mentally. I find my work very challenging. It's passion that drives me to do well. My coworkers are glad to have my 48 years of experience and knowledge. If you think the the employer is suffering, perhaps it is you that is the cause of his pain. Get a life, and quit blaming others for your own short-comings. Some of us are just downright good at what we do and don't feel the need to apologize to some young wimp.

Speedydog of WA 8:26PM August 22, 2010

I am 50 years old and recently I applied and had an open interview with the company 5 other applicant's were there. They were much younger !!!!! Well I was rejected and have 15 years experience ...So what do you think!!!!

Tina Pentacoff of CA 8:17PM August 22, 2010

Maybe in markets where there aren't enough teachers . . . but in a town like San Diego, there is a glut of teachers and there is a preference for younger people and for men. Also, the nepotism in school districts is insane. I counted, in one district that I am familiar with, and came up with 25% of the employees being related to another worker in the district. And that was just the ones that I was aware of. So the number is probably higher.

Kari of CA 8:12PM August 22, 2010

I have worked in my field of business consulting for 24 years. I find the majority of my time is consumed helping hire competent people. Believe it not I look for older more skilled people. I find them reliable, very willing, and trustworthy. They have a sense of contribution rather than "being contributed to" and get along for the most part very nicely in the work a day world. My dilemma in finding them, is not being able to say outright in placing ads that I do not want younger people applying but rather "mature and experienced in life" people.

P. A. LaClaire of OR 8:05PM August 22, 2010

The article misses a key point about working in education. The more experience you have the less likely you are to get a job because you will cost them so much more than a beginner. I lost my job in higher ed due to budget cuts. I have over 25 years of experience in K-12, numerous awards, and I'm also certified in administration, technology and media but I was rejected without an interview for almost 20 openings in our local districts. These range from classroom teaching to administration. Several of my former students who just graduated were hired for these jobs. I'm collection rejection e-mails but have no chance of getting one of the 600K education openings linked to the article. Due to budget cuts the estimates are that 5000 teachers lost jobs in my state. Who will hire someone at the top of the scale with all the cheaper ones available?

Lynn of IN 7:26PM August 22, 2010

I understand the comments I have read here about the article's lack of validity where people age 50 and above are concerned. I was encouraged to "go back to school" and "get a degree" so that I would qualify as a secondary education teacher in the public schools. After obtaining the degree (M.A. in English), I found out that one cannot get hired in the public schools unless one knows "friends" within the system who can get one in to see the hiring principals, or, another thing I found out about teaching secondary education, I must have the qualifications to coach football, baseball, or soccer AND hold the teaching certificate in English as well. I have been teaching as a part-time college instructor at two different colleges in my area (which pays about one quarter of the salary that a full-time instructor receives), and I cannot get hired full-time because it is "cheaper" for the colleges to hire "newbies" with NO teaching experience than to hire me - someone who has seven plus years of teaching experience. I hope parents realize that the colleges are not hiring the "most qualified" instructors to teach their students but the ones they can hire for less money with NO teaching experience. Now tell me about all the teaching jobs that will be available for "mature" adults - I dare you. And I have sought out employment outside the academic field, and because I now have a M.A. in English, I am either "over-qualified," or I do not have the "required" experience, even though I have worked in many different clerical, service, sales positions prior to obtaining the M.A. in English.

D.A. Johnson of TX 7:06PM August 22, 2010