The US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration has partnered with Easterseals through the latter’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSCEP) to address the highest unemployment rate among older adults in 50 years, due to the pandemic.

Through SCSEP, a transitional employment program, Easterseals works with community-based nonprofit organizations and government agencies to enable participant job seekers to update their skills and achieve their employment goals. People train an average of 20 hours weekly and are paid a training stipend, which is the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage. This training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities.

"Unlike any time in history, older workers lost jobs faster and are reentering the workforce slower as a result of lay-offs they experienced during the pandemic," Crystal Odom-McKinney, MA, National Director of SCSEP, said in a statement. "Persistent unemployment may cause more older workers to leave the labor force earlier than planned, increasing downward mobility and poverty in retirement."

Employers and job seekers can learn more about SCSEP opportunities here,

https://www.easterseals.com/our-programs/employment-training/senior-community-service-employment-program-scsep.html