The Aging of America: Challenges and Opportunities in Information Technology

Editor’s Note: Results of the 2000 Census indicate that the U.S. population is aging. The median age, at 35.3 years, is the highest ever, and those 62 years and older total almost 10 percent more than they did in 1990. In every state except West Virginia, the census shows an increase of at least 20 percent in the 35 to 54 age group. Twenty-seven states saw a more than 30 percent increase in that age cohort. 



This aging of the populace is affecting some areas more than others. For example, greater Cleveland–an area comprised of seven counties–saw 45- to 54-year-olds increase by about 40 percent between 1990 and 2000 while 25- to 34-year-olds decreased by 19 percent. Pennsylvania, second only to Florida in its population of senior citizens, also grew older during the last decade. The state’s median age increased by three years, and the number of children, age 4 and younger, dropped by almost 9 percent. 



The aging of the population presents new challenges for policymakers involved in building tech-based economies. They include: an IT worker shortage exacerbated by hiring practices of some IT companies, encouraging older workers to remain in the workforce longer, and promoting increased involvement with computers and the Internet for those 50 and older.  

IT Worker Shortage: Those with Too Much Experience Need Not Apply 

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) reports that 843,000 IT jobs went unfilled last year, with nearly 20 percent of those being programming positions. 

Yet, older IT-capable workers can only hope to fill these positions, based on recent survey results published by Information Week. More experienced applicants are less likely to be hired. The survey found that only 4 out of 200 managers would hire an applicant with more than 10 years of experience. Nearly half, however, would hire someone with four to 10 years of experience. 

Older IT workers do bring certain advantages to the workplace, according to a survey conducted in 2000 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA. The survey found that IT workers 45 years and older were rated higher than younger workers in qualities such as problem-solving, communication, technical knowledge, and teamwork. They were, however, considered weaker in other areas such as adapting to new assignments and staying abreast of the latest tech developments. 

Retaining Workers: Computer Training Can Be Critical 

In The Impact of Technological Change on Older Workers: Evidence from Data on Computer Use — a study released in May by the National Bureau of Economic Research — Leora Friedberg asserts that computer use leads directly to a later retirement and that training in computer skills increases this likelihood. 

Friedberg cites estimates from the Current Population Survey and the Health and Retirement Study, showing that non-computer users were 25 percent more likely to leave work than computer users. (The Current Population Survey collects monthly employment data from more than 150,000 people, yielding a sample of about 60,000 workers aged 18-64. The Health and Retirement Study follows over 7,600 households with someone born between 1931 and 1941, collecting data on employment, income and health every two years.) 



SeniorNet: Computers and the Internet for 50+ 

SeniorNet has dedicated itself solely to adults age 50 and older, providing access to and education about computer technology and the Internet and offering computer classes specifically designed for the age group. It is an international nonprofit organization with more than 220 learning centers across the U.S., having served more than 100,000 seniors since 1986. Among SeniorNet’s curriculum are courses on introduction to computers, word processing, spreadsheets and using the Internet. The centers are managed primarily by senior volunteers, taught by volunteer instructors and housed in locations such as senior centers, community centers, schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals and public libraries. 

Among SeniorNet’s more recent developments is the Bridging the Digital Divide Enrichment Center, a center aimed at educating the public about the age-related Digital Divide. The center was launched on Memorial Day to honor America's 76 million older adults and 17 million military veterans over 50. It features a collection of articles, research reports, and interactive discussions focused on understanding and ending the Digital Divide.